Box Score
Postgame video interview

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. -- Anthony Paganie scored in the 79th minute to break a 1-1 tie and give the 11th-ranked Slippery Rock University men's soccer team a 2-1 win over No. 18 Millersville in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference opener for both teams Wednesday at Thompson Stadium.

Wednesday's game marked a rematch of the PSAC Championship game from last season, which ended with the same score in favor of Slippery Rock.

Both teams came into Wednesday's game ranked in the first week's national rankings, released by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

The Rock (2-0-1, 1-0-0 PSAC) and Millersville (1-1-0, 0-1-0) played to a 0-0 tie in the first half, with the majority of play taking place at the midfield.

Slippery Rock broke the tie when Patrick Conley found the right corner of the net off an assist from Kenneth Fultz in the 51st minute.

Millersville tied the game in the 61st minute when Pat Baffuto scored into an open left side of the net on a free kick. On the initial attempt, Kyle Loughlin's shot was blocked, but the referees blew the play dead because The Rock's wall was too close to the free kick attempt. Bafutto went through the middle of the wall to tie the game at 1-1.

Slippery Rock jumped back out in front when Fultz found a streaking Anthony Paganie down the right side of the field. Paganie beat one defender and then beat Millersville's keeper back across his body to the left corner of the net for the game-winner.

Millersville had one final scoring chance with 37 seconds remaining, but a header from Loughlin was smothered by Greg Blum on the goal line to secure the win.

Blum earned the win after allowing one goal and recording four saves.

Matt Langione took the loss for Millersville, allowing two goals and recording one save.

Both teams finished the game with nine shots, while Millersville held a 5-3 edge in shots on goal. The Rock was awarded four corner kicks to the Marauders' two.

Slippery Rock will continue PSAC play Saturday when it travels to West Chester for a noon kickoff.


Notes: The win marked the second straight win in a PSAC opener for SRU ... Millersville's loss was its first in a PSAC opener since 2005 and snapped a 20-game conference winning streak for the Marauders ... Millersville is now winless in its last six games played on the turf at Thompson Stadium (0-5-1) dating back to 2002 ... Rock keeper Greg Blum tallied a rare shot when he sent a free kick from midfield just over the crossbar ... Millersville is one of three Rock opponents this season that appears in the week one NSCAA Division II poll (#6 Charleston and #17 Ashland).