SLIPPERY ROCK — Grove City forward Caleb Stewart had plenty of space as he dribbled toward the net, but was still haunted by last year.

In a key game against Slippery Rock, the now junior for the Eagles' boys soccer team missed a shot over the center of the crossbar that could have won the game.

Monday, he earned redemption in a 1-0 Region 2-AA road win over the Rockets.

A failed clearance bounced straight to Stewart, giving him plenty of open space.

As he approached Slippery Rock goalie Jason Bluedorn, Stewart thought right foot, right post.

He put the ball past a lunging Bluedorn with 4 minutes, 9 seconds remaining to give the Eagles the only goal of the game.

“Actually, it was last year that I piked a goal that would have won the game for us,” Stewart said. “In my head, I was thinking don't mess this one up. Drive down, keep your head low, keep over the ball and hit it as hard as you can at the right post.”

Slippery Rock (6-3, 4-1) had dominated the possession and scoring chances up to that point.

The Rockets out shot Grove City 17-4.

“It was a mis-hit and we were pressing,” Slippery Rock coach Kyle Hopkins said. “They had that space and got in and got behind.”

The Eagles (5-4, 4-3) only had one shot on goal in the first half.

Slippery Rock nearly went ahead in the 22nd minute when Matt Dempsey headed a corner that was stopped by Shaun Flynn.

Flynn, who finished with eight saves, also punched away a free kick by Ben Magliocca that was headed for the upper corner.

“We were just trying to get the ball wide and attack their outside defenders,” Hopkins said. “Unfortunately, we couldn't finish our chances early.”

Grove City coach Matt Nichols didn't think his team had the right approach in the first half.

He felt the Eagles were too passive.

“At halftime, we talked about us being intense,” Nichols said. “Us being intense and going after the second balls. In the second half, we controlled the ball, took them off the ball and played our game.”

Stewart had another chance in the 62nd minute when he launched a shot that Bluedorn had a tough time corralling.

Wyatt Grimm followed and put a shot on that was cleared by a Slippery Rock defender.

The Rockets put several more chances wide of the goalpost and a few over the crossbar before Stewart broke through.

This time, the shot went exactly where he wanted it.

“We haven't beat Slippery Rock at their home field in probably eight years,” Stewart said. “This game is going to boost our morale for every other game this season.”