The Rocket

Issue date: 9/7/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Samantha Chalmers Freshman defender Derek Angus plays the ball forward in second half action Wednesday night againt Salem International. Angus's defensive leadership has helped SRU go 2-0-1 in their last three games. [Click to enlarge]

If the first two minutes of play were any indication of how the game would end, it looked as though the Slippery Rock men's soccer team was going to dominate Salem International University at Bob DiSpirito Field on Wednesday afternoon.

As it turns out, the first two minutes would in fact predict the rest of the non-conference match, as the Rock defeated Salem 6-0, bringing their overall record to 2-2-1.

Salem headed into the game with no substitutions on the bench, a blistering sun and high humidity.

"We knew ahead of time they were only going to have 11 or 12 players," said Slippery Rock Head Coach Matt Thompson. "But we approached the game professionally."

Senior captain Steve Perri said the Rock's game plan for Salem was no different than for any other game.

"We prepared just as we would for a PSAC game," Perri said. "We try to look at all games as conference games."

Senior forward Ed Mocarsky set the pace with a goal 90 seconds into the game. Jeremy Deighton sent a through ball in front of the net and Mocarsky fired one passed Leonardo Silva, Salem's goalkeeper.

"We have been trying to work possession in practice sessions," Thompson said. "We're trying to pass and move and attack more."

Perri also said that the team's plan of attack has changed so far this season.

"In years past we have played the longer ball, whereas now we are trying to play through all 11 players and utilize every strength," he said.

Perri and his teammates demonstrated this after Perri knocked in a rebound in the 31st minute of the game. It looked as though a give-and-go between midfielder Nick Christy and Mocarsky was not going to make it after Salem's keeper swatted it away, but Perri was there to clean up, putting the ball firmly in the back of the net.

Continued...

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