Men's Soccer Ties #25 Slippery Rock

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pennsylvania (September 15, 2012) - It didn't take long for the nationally ranked Slippery Rock University men's soccer team to realize they'd have their hands full on Saturday afternoon.  Just six minutes into the game, Urbana University freshman forward Jared Brand scored to give the Blue Knights a lead.  Urbana pushed the lead to 2-0 before The Rock stormed back late to salvage a 2-2 tie.

The tie means Urbana just narrowly missed out on their third victory over a D-II Top 25 opponent in as many years.  Last season, Urbana upset undefeated and 5th ranked Mercyhurst on the road, and two years ago, the Blue Knights knocked off #12 Gannon in Urbana.  The Rock entered Saturday's contest ranked 25th in the country after a 3-0-2 start.  The tie snaps their 3-game winning streak.  Meanwhile, Urbana moves to 3-2-1.
Blue Knight Tyler Wason notched his team-leading sixth goal of the season in the 50th minute to give Urbana its 2-goal lead.  Wason also assisted on Brand's early goal. 

Unfortunately, Urbana could not protect its lead.  The Rock scored twice in the final 15 minutes to force overtime.  Joshua Gray's equalizer in the 87th minute was the second time in 8 days that Urbana lost a lead in the final 5 minutes of regulation.  The University of Findlay also erased a late deficit against Urbana and later won it in overtime.  Urbana's defense answered the challenge at Slippery Rock on Saturday.  Goalkeeper Darragh McGinley and the Blue Knight defense stopped every SRU opportunity in both 10-minute overtime periods to hold on for the 2-2 tie.  McGinley finished with 14 saves, including a one-on-one spectacular save with just 10 seconds remaining in the second OT.

Urbana stays on the road on Wednesday afternoon, traveling to Ohio Valley University for a 4:00 p.m. kickoff. [Box Score]