The Rocket

Issue date: 9/28/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Samantha Chalmers Rock senior midfielder Steve Perri fights past a Millersville defender in Saturday's 1-0 victory. The win extended SRU's unbeaten streak to eight, before Wednesday's 2-1 overtime loss at California (Pa.). [Click to enlarge]

In a game full of missed opportunities, California (Pa.) University snapped the unbeaten streak held by the Slippery Rock men's soccer team with a 2-1 triumph.
The setback dropped the Rock's record to 5-2-2 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference and 6-3-2 overall.
California outshot SRU, 6-3, but the Rock had plenty of opportunities in and around the box, including eight fouls on California to use to their advantage.
"The little things that we were doing that made us better, we just weren't doing," Rock Head Coach Matt Thompson said.
Midway through the first half, California capitalized on a pass in the box by Pedro Palladino. Felipe Souza, who had four total shots on goal, knocked the ball over the head of Rock goalie Chris Cook.
Minutes later, it looked as though Jeremy Deighton would tie the score on a breakaway, but the SRU forward was taken down by a Vulcan defender.
Senior forward Ed Mocarsky was officially credited with the lone Slippery Rock goal, but it was truly a team effort. Freshman Mitchell Walters received the ball deep in Vulcan territory and crossed it, the ball landing at the feet of Iain Langstone. Langstone dropped the ball back to Mocarsky in the box, who then fired it past goalkeeper Derek Yobbi.
Mocarsky's goal came with a minute to play in the first half, leaving the score tied at 1-1.
Thompson gave the team a well-needed pep talk at halftime, he said.
"We told them to show some passion, and play with heart," Thompson said.
When the Rock took the field for the second half, they came out a completely different team.

Continued...

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