Alander Soares vs. Slippery Rock
Bryce Dolak
1
Slippery Rock SLIPP (5-4-3, 2-2-2)
3
Winner Gannon GANN (10-2-2, 4-0-2)
Slippery Rock SLIPP
(5-4-3, 2-2-2)
1
Final
3
Gannon GANN
(10-2-2, 4-0-2)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Slippery Rock SLIPP 1 0 1
Gannon GANN 1 2 3

Game Recap: Men's Soccer | | Bob Shreve, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

No. 12 Golden Knights Score a Pair of Late Goals to Hold Off Slippery Rock, Run Winning Streak to Six Games

ERIE, Pa. – The 12th-ranked Gannon men's soccer team scored twice in the final 15 minutes for a hard-earned 3-1 win over Slippery Rock on Wednesday night at McConnell Family Stadium.
 
The victory extended Gannon's winning streak to six games in a row and kept the Golden Knights just a point behind Lock Haven in the race for the top spot in the Western Division. Gannon is now 10-2-2 overall and 4-0-2 in the PSAC West while Slippery Rock saw its three-game winning streak snapped while moving to 5-4-3 and 2-2-2, respectively.
 
Gannon has now won 10-or-more games in all five of head coach Billy Colton's full seasons (not counting the COVID-shortened 2020 season). Win number ten didn't come easy as Slippery Rock forged a 1-1 tie at the half while forcing the pace of play.
 
The second half was a different story but the Golden Knights saw numerous chances come up empty before freshman Alander Soares (Caxias do Sul, Brazil/Escola Estadual de Ensino Medio Santa Catarina) finally gave Gannon a 2-1 lead in the 76th minute. The defense took over, holding SRU at bay until Sverre Orten (Orsta, Norway/Aalesund vgs) scored with seven seconds remaining for an insurance goal.
 
Wednesday's contest was Gannon's final home match of the regular season. The Golden Knights play their final four games on the road, beginning with a match at California (Pa.) on Saturday, October 26.   
 
How it Happened:
  • Gannon took advantage of a foul in the box on James Pool (Hastings, England/Claverham) to score the first goal of the match. Sverre Orten (Orsta, Norway/Aalesund vgs) took the penalty kick and blasted it into the left corner of the goal at 25:17.
  • Slippery Rock evened the match at 1-1 at 30:58 when Arturo Pia Hernandis shielded a Gannon defender and found the back of the net.
  • Gannon had several opportunities to score in the second half and finally took advantage at the 75:07 mark. James Pool (Hastings, England/Claverham) dribbled down the middle of the field then found a streaking Alander Soares (Caxias do Sul, Brazil/Escola Estadual de Ensino Medio Santa Catarina) down the right side. The freshman's shot beat SRU goalkeeper Adam Davies into the right corner. The goal was the eighth of the season for Soares, tying Per Kristian Lauvstad (Nesoya, Norway) for the team lead.
  • Orten notched his second goal of the match and seventh of the season with just seven seconds remaining as he blooped a shot over Davis following a turnover.
By the Numbers:
  • For one of the few times this year Gannon was outshot in the first half, with SRU holding a 7-5 lead. But Gannon outshot The Rock 14-2 over the final 45 minutes to hold a 19-9 advantage at the end of the night. The Golden Knights also held a wide 10-2 edge in corner kicks.
  • Sverre Orten (Orsta, Norway/Aalesund vgs) scored Gannon's first and third goals, marking the third time in his career the junior has scored two goals in a match.
  • Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Andres Moares saw his string of three straight shutouts come to an end but finished with three saves. SRU's Adam Davies had five saves.
  • Gannon is now 11-0-2 in the last 13 meetings with Slippery Rock. The two battled to a 1-1 tie in the first meeting three weeks ago, but the Golden Knights were forced to play the final 61 minutes a man down following a red card.
Next for the Golden Knights: Saturday, October 26 at California (Pa.), 6:00 p.m.
Gannon and California (Pa.) meet for the second time in 11 days. The first meeting went to the Golden Knights by a 6-0 score on October 16.
 
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