The Slippery Rock men’s soccer team played in a pivotal section game at Lock Haven University to continue their Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) play on Wednesday. The game ended in a scoreless tie, with the defense shining bright for The Rock.
A missed opportunity in the early minutes by Kaden Reynolds did not deter the team, and they held strong throughout.
Lock Haven kept the pressure on, but great defensive plays and saves by goalie Alvey Kaufman prevented any goals from the onslaught of the Bald Eagles’ shots. He ended the game with three saves.
SRU had a multitude of close calls throughout the game. On their two corner kicks, they were unable to convert, but on the flip side, the six corner kicks by Lock Haven were all shut down quickly by the White and Green. No amount of offense could get past the grit of The Rock.
As the second half began, Slippery Rock cleaned up their play, committing four less fouls and keeping the Bald Eagle offense to a minimum when it came to shots. Of Lock Haven’s 13 total shots, only three were on goal.
The game played a critical role in the team’s quest for the PSAC playoffs. The tie solidified SRU’s third-place position in their division over Lock Haven, staying tied with Seton Hill at 10 points apiece.
The Rock only has four games remaining on their schedule, all of which being PSAC games that will determine the outcome of their season.
Oct. 25 is senior day, also being the second-to-last home game of the season for SRU. This game will come against Seton Hill, and a win for The Rock will propel them into second place in the PSAC West Division.
SRU will then finish the PSAC season with games at Gannon University and California University of Pennsylvania, then end the regular season with a home game against the University of Pitt Johnstown.
