CALIFORNIA (Sept. 21) – The Vulcans were unable to overcome a second-half penalty kick in a 1-0 loss against Slippery Rock in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play on Wednesday night at the Phillipsburg Soccer Facility.

With the loss, the California (PA) men's soccer team falls to 1-4-1 overall with a 0-2 mark in conference action, Meanwhile, the Rock improves to 4-2-1 overall behind a 2-0 record in divisional competition.

Cal applied early pressure as an attempt by junior Kobe Norfleet (Monongahela, Pa./Ringgold) went left of the net at the 6:46-mark. Slippery Rock threatened to score at the 16:33-mark with a corner kick, however, no shot attempt formed for The Rock. Just over one minute later, sophomore Wyatt Ramer (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Salem) led an attack for the Vulcans with his attempt on target but saved by Hossam Aly. At the 20:43-mark, freshman goalkeeper AJ Visco (Irwin, Pa./Penn-Trafford) tallied the first of his two saves, coming off an attempt from Arturo Pla Hernandis. Within the next minute, Cal attacked with a corner kick and shot attempt in a three-second span as the shot sailed just high of the net. In the 26th minute, both teams traded the next two shots with neither able to score. As halftime drew near, both teams struggled to construct an attack until the 39:08-mark with Cal notching a corner kick, however, no shot resulted.

Early in the second half, The Rock threatened as it recorded a corner kick and shot attempt in a 10-second span with the attempt going wide right. Cal answered with pressure from an attempt by Adam Wood (Toronto, Ontario/Don Mills Collegiate Institute) going just right of the net. At the 67:05-mark, Slippery Rock took the lead as Shaun Spencer converted on a penalty kick. The Vulcans stayed aggressive as they recorded a pair of corner kicks and shots between the 70th and 79th minute. In the closing 10 minutes, Cal only registered one shot which hit the crossbar.

Visco collected a pair of saves on five shots faced in 90 minutes of action on Wednesday, as he played the entire game for the first time in his career.

Cal out-shot Slippery Rock by an 8-6 advantage and also held a 4-3 edge in corner kicks.

The Vulcans return to action on Saturday, Sept. 24, as they travel to Greensburg, Pennsylvania, to face Seton Hill in PSAC West action at 1 p.m.