SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Aaron Finney converted an 84^th-minute corner kick to give a shorthanded Slippery Rock University men's soccer team a 2-1 win over Shepherd University Saturday at James Egli Field.
 
The Rock are back at .500 on the year with a 3-3-3 overall record that contains a 0-1-2 mark in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division play. The Rams suffered their third straight loss, now at 3-6-2 on the season and 1-4 in the PSAC East.
 
Finney's late game-winner was required for an SRU victory after Arturo Pla Hernandis' 11^th-minute goal was responded to in the 72^nd minute by a Shepherd equalizer.
 
Aitor Jorde led Slippery Rock offensively with three shots, also tacking on an assist. Ryan Hanes and Jack Smith additionally gave SRU one assist each. Pla Hernandis put one of his two shots on net with Rasmus Fugl, Jimmy Irani and Ignacio Rullan rounding out Slippery Rock's shot-takers all with one.
 
Adam Davies made a trio of stops for The Rock in net, playing the full 90-minute fixture.
 
Neither side registered a shot in the opening 10 minutes, making Pla Hernandis' 11^th-minute goal the first shot of the match as well. Pla Hernandis one-timed a rapid play through traffic that saw great ball movement by Jorde and Smith.
 
SRU proceeded to take the game's next three shots but could not double its lead. The Rock defended two shots and a corner kick from Shepherd in the final 2:08 of the half, able to take a 1-0 lead into the break.
 
Jorde looked to have Slippery Rock's second goal of the game in the 63^rd minute by heading in a corner, but saw his attempt deflect upward off the crossbar.
 
Slippery Rock's day was made more challenging in the 72^nd minute when Jorde picked up a second yellow card, putting The Rock down a man for the remainder of the match. Shepherd took advantage immediately, scoring with Asong Nkemanjong off the free kick to tie the game up at 1-1.
 
Finney subbed in for Aashi Pandher in the 81^st minute and made a splash just 1:39 later, knocking in a corner kick that was taken by Hanes to lift The Rock back up to a 2-1 lead.
 
The Rams mustered an 85^th-minute shot that went wide and was held without a tying score on an 87^th-minute corner as The Rock escaped with their first home win of the year.
 
Both teams took nine total shots in the match, while Shepherd came away with leads in shots on goal (4-2) and corner kicks (6-4). Aidan Houck made two stops in net for the Rams. Donik Elshani was Shepherd's leader offensively with one of his game-high three shots landing on frame.
 
Slippery Rock will turn its attention back to PSAC West competition with a trip to Pitt-Johnstown Oct. 16. The Rock are set to kick off with the Mountain Cats 1 p.m. at Windber Stadium.





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