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Robert Morris University Athletics

Men's Soccer

Opportunities Abound In Scoreless Tie With Mount St. Mary's

Moon Township, Pa. / North Athletic Complex-The final score may have been 0-0, but both the Robert Morris University and Mount St. Mary's men's soccer teams created plenty of scoring chances in a Northeast Conference contest at North Athletic Complex on Sunday afternoon.

Colonials (2-12-3, 2-3-3 NEC) freshman keeper Toba Bolaji (Vaughn, Ontario / Maple) finished with a career best 11 saves, the sixth-best save total in RMU history. Making his first career start, Mount goalie Kyle McGehrin stopped five shots.

Mount St. Mary's appeared that it would strike first in the 11th minute when Will Thomas created a chance for Eric Detzel by playing the ball back from the endline into the box. Detzel's shot beat Bolaji, but sophomore back Max Shinsky (York, Pa. / West York Area) was there to clear the shot from the box.

The Mount was given another golden opportunity late in the half when they were awarded an indirect kick inside the RMU box, 10 yards from net. After a touch, Detzel blasted a shot at a group of charging defenders, but it was Bolaji who reacted quickly low and left to make the save.

Junior Neil Shaffer (Aliquippa, Pa. / Beaver) had the first great chance for Robert Morris in the 61st minute. Sophomore Matt Sheibley (Dillsburg, Pa. / Northern) played a hard cross to the near post where Shaffer dove to his left and deflected the ball on net. McGehrin was equal to the task, however, diving to his right and pushing the ball wide of net.

In the 72nd minute, Ian Hendrie ripped a shot from 25 yards that curled from left to right. Bolaji elevated and extended his left hand, tipping the ball over the net.

As the game continued to tilt back-and-forth, Alex Ockford looked to have the gamewinner in the second overtime. A corner kick by Detzel found Ockford's head eight yards out, but his shot was played away from the far post by sophomore Matt Griffin (Bethel Park, Pa. / Bethel Park).

The next corner kick nearly ended the game, this time with RMU earning the opportunity. Sheibley's low kick found Shaffer at the near post. The junior's header was low and hard and forced McGehrin quickly to his right to deflect the shot. Senior Sean Riley (Kalispell, Mont. / Flathead) was first to the rebound, but his sliding attempt scurried wide of the far post.

Mount nearly doubled up the Colonials in shots, 25-13, while earning 12 corner kicks to five for the hosts.

Robert Morris caps its 2009 home schedule next Sunday, November 1, when they host Bryant in a 1:00 p.m. match.

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