Alex Mobley scores 1st goal with Slippery Rock boys soccer to secure season sweep of rival Grove City
-
Slippery Rock's Wade Freehling (8) attempts a shot at the goal in a boys soccer game against Grove City Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2026, at Grove City's Forker Field. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
-
Slippery Rock's Zach Lasko (10) follows the ball in a boys soccer game against Grove City Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2026, at Grove City's Forker Field. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
-
Slippery Rock's Alex Mobley (22) shoots a goal in a boys soccer game against Grove City Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2026, at Grove City's Forker Field. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
-
Slippery Rock's Alex Mobley (22) reacts after scoring a goal in a boys soccer game against Grove City Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2026, at Grove City's Forker Field. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
-
Slippery Rock's Connor Metheney (13) chases after the ball in a boys soccer game against Grove City Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2026, at Grove City's Forker Field. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
GROVE CITY — Slippery Rock boys soccer coach Kyle Hopkins figured Grove City would not lack determination to win Tuesday’s District 10 Region 2 rematch following the Rockets’ 5-1 defeat of the Eagles three weeks ago.
“I knew we would have to match their intensity, and if we didn’t, we could lose,” he said.
The Rockets got the job done despite some early stress on the defense, beating their rivals 2-0 at Grove City’s Forker Field.
They avoided falling behind despite allowing Grove City forwards to get behind their defense three times in the first 20 minutes.
When Rockets’ senior Alex Mobley was afforded the same opportunity, he didn’t waste it, burying a shot past GC goalie Cruz Morrow in the 23rd minute for a 1-0 SR lead.
It was the first goal of the season for Mobley, a reserve midfielder who is in his second year with the Rockets after moving from Alaska in 2025.
“I played soccer there for a high school in Anchorage,” Mobley said. “It’s a bit different there, more about flair with whoever has the ball at their feet. Here, it’s more pass and move.”
But when Mobley took control of the ball, only Morrow and the possibility of an errant shot stood in his way of scoring. He tucked his boot in the bottom left corner of the net from 20 yards.
“The second I got the touch, it was ‘Let’s go and score,’” he said.
Grove City’s chances with breakaways proved frustrating for the Eagles.
Their first such attempt came in the seventh minute from Micah Byun, who leads GC with 16 goals this season. His chance at No. 17 sailed wide left of the net and Slippery Rock goalie Parker Wilhide.
The next chance came when Graham Hatfield was fouled just outside the penalty box, leading to a free kick the Rockets (8-4, 6-0) successfully defended.
SR defenders Zach Lasko and Wesley Keith then recovered in time to thwart two other runs at the net by the Eagles (8-4-1, 3-2-1), with Keith’s effort coming four minutes after Mobley’s ice-breaker.
“Again, I think it was not matching their intensity level early and a lack of communication on our part,” Hopkins said. “He (Byun) directs their offense, and fortunately we were able to get by without allowing a goal.”
Morrow (12 saves) did his job to keep SR’s lead at a single goal until Wade Freehling scored in the 67th minute.
Wilhide needed to make just two saves in the game, the final one coming with under two minutes left when Dillon Pottinger’s shot bounced off the goalie, who came off his line to challenge.
Slippery Rock hosts Conneaut on Thursday.
