BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Slippery Rock University men's soccer team kicked off the year in the win column thanks to a dramatic 87^th-minute goal netted by Aitor Jorde that secured a 1-0 win at D'Youville University Thursday.
 
The Rock begin their season with a 1-0 record for the first time since 2015, while the Saints begin their 2024 campaign at 0-1.
 
Jorde's goal marked the fourth game-winner of his career at SRU. The team's leading goalscorer from a year ago, Jorde joined newcomer Rasmus Fugl in both generating a game-high three shots. Fugl and Jorde each placed two of their three shots on target.
 
Colton Swanson landed both of his two shots on frame in his Slippery Rock debut, while Luke Gildea, Arturo Pla Hernandis and Jeroen Van Der Veen each contributed one shot.
 
Adam Davies made one save in net for The Rock on the way to his third career shutout.
 
SRU looked to have all the momentum early, setting up for its first of seven corners just 1:41 into action. Fugl's shot was stopped by DYU's Matthew Solorio, who wound up making six saves on the day.
 
Slippery Rock held possession for much of the first half, carrying an 8-2 advantage in shot attempts into the break despite the 0-0 scoreline.
 
Things became more contested in the last 45 minutes as D'Youville threatened with three of their five total shots, matching the three shots SRU mustered in the second half as well. The Saints threatened immensely with four straight corner kicks between the 50^th and 52^nd minutes, only to be turned aside by the SRU defense.
 
A late D'Youville throw in SRU's defensive third that was intercepted by Slippery Rock is what ignited the game-winning counterattack. From the top of the box, Davies rolled the ball right to Swanson, who sent a long-arching ball downfield to Jorde. Jorde shimmied around a defender before blasting the goal in with just 3:09 remaining in the contest.
 
DYU was able to set up a corner with 2:45 left in the match but could not get past SRU's defense, which helped post The Rock's first blank slate in a season opener since 2013.
 
Slippery Rock came away with an 11-5 tilt in shots and a 7-1 stronghold in shots on goal, while D'Youville led in corner kicks, 10-7.
 
Slippery Rock will return to the pitch to face Walsh University 7 p.m. Sept. 11 in North Canton, Ohio.





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