The Slippery Rock University men's soccer team broke a 31-year drought in capturing the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Championship with a 2-1 win on the road over California (Pa.) University Sunday afternoon.

It is The Rock's first conference championship since 1974.

Gary Saunders and Jeff Hamley each scored first-half goals for SRU (12-7-2).

Playing in extremely windy conditions, both teams were conservative early.

Saunders scored in the 21st minute when he collected a loose ball in front of the goal and knocked it into the net for his team-leading seventh score of the season.

Dave Keller and Slippery Rock High School graduate Chris Byers were each credited with an assist on the goal.

Less than two minutes later, Hamley found the net on a free kick from midfield that the wind pushed past Cal keeper and Slippery Rock High School graduate Eric Greaves for Hamley's first goal of the season.

Cal's Pedro Palladino scored the Vulcans' lone goal with 15 minutes remaining.

Rock goalkeeper Chris Cook recorded four saves.

SRU is hoping to earn a berth into the NCAA postseason field for the first time in school history.

Three teams from the Northeast Region will receive a NCAA berth on Monday. The Rock is hoping it will be one of them.

Not to be outdone by the men's soccer team, the Slippery Rock University women's squad also claimed a conference title Sunday with a 1-0 win over host Kutztown state.Meghan McGrath scored the only goal for The Rock off a corner kick by Butler graduate Julie Lineman.Jen McCormick got her 12th shutout in goal, stopping four shots.Sunday's win was the third straight by SRU (13-5-3), which claimed its second PSAC title in three seasons.The win also should put The Rock in position for a berth into the NCAA postseason. The NCAA will announce the 16-team field Monday.SRU's last NCAA playoff appearance was in 2003.