Slippery Rock men’s soccer fell one more game behind five hundred after they lost to California (Pa.) Wednesday.
After one half of play, the Rock and California were even at nil-nil. However, the Vulcans struck twice in a span of three minutes to claim a two-goal lead. Gabin Lonjard answered in the 78th minute, but it was too little too late as The Rock dropped their third this season.
Now sitting at a record of 1-3-3, the squad is desperate to break into the win column soon.
The bright side of the slow start is that the team has only appeared in one Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) match thus far. Seven of their next eight will be PSAC matches with a chance to redeem themselves. This stretch includes a three-game home stand where The Rock will host Gannon University, Seton Hill University and California once again.
While goal-scoring has been a struggle for the White and Green early on this season, they have done an excellent job at keeping the ball out of their net.
Goalkeeper Adam Davies has started all seven matches and conceded 12 while saving 25. If he and the defense can continue their strong play, The Rock has a legitimate chance to contend in PSAC play.
Arturo Pla Hernandis has been the standout on offense, just as he was in 2022. In seven games, he has already scored four times, half of his total last season. Hernandis will look to stay hot and get some secondary scoring along the way.
Only three other players have goals other than Hernandis, those being Aashi Pandher (2), Aitor Jorde (2) and Gabin Lonjard (1).
Pitt-Johnstown met the White and Green at James Egli Field on Saturday, Sept. 30 in their second consecutive PSAC match.
The Rock looked to replicate an impressive performance from the last time the two met, where SRU defeated UPJ by a score of 4-1.
This matchup will be a key determiner of which team will climb in the right direction as they are both towards the bottom of the PSAC-West with Slippery Rock in last place and UPJ in fifth.
With a win, SRU will be one game away from 500, a mark they have not been at since the beginning of the 2022 campaign where they began 4-2-1.
