Moon Township, Pa. / North Athletic Complex-Robert Morris University senior Katie Castner (Catasauqua, Pa. / Catasauqua) had played in 47 games with Colonials women's soccer team prior to Friday evening. She had never scored before her goal in the 78th minute lifted the Colonials (1-2-0) to a 2-1 win over Niagara University (1-1-0) in RMU's first home game of the 2009 season.
With the game tied, 1-1, in the 78th minute, Castner carried the ball near the right corner of the goal box, moving toward the middle of the field. The senior then unleashed a curling left-footed shot that hooked inside the left post and just under the crossbar. Her first career goal gave Robert Morris its first win of the season and just the second win over Niagara in 13 tries.
Chelsea Spencer played a through-ball past the backline of Colonial defenders where Jamie Raepple caught up with it. Raepple took one touch into the box before beating a charging freshman goalkeeper Jessica Olin (New Port Richey, Fla. / River Ridge) in the 15th minute of the contest.
Senior Daneen Stevenato (North York, Ontario / Newtonbrook) knotted the game in the 57th minute off of a corner kick. Junior Kathleen Caggiano (Moon Township, Pa. / Moon) played an in-swinger from the left corner to the center of the box. Stevenato outleaped everyone, and buried a header down and to the right for the score, her first of the season.
Niagara held a slight edge in shots, 12-11. Robert Morris was called for 13 fouls while Niagara committed eight. Olin made three saves in the win while Purple Eagles keeper Ashleigh Bowers stopped four shots.
The Colonials play their next five games on the road beginning with a 4:00 p.m. kick-off at George Washington on September 11.
