Moon Township, Pa. / North Athletic Complex-Senior Justin Turnley (Beaver, Pa. / Beaver) scored a goal and assisted
on another as the Robert Morris University men's soccer team won its third
consecutive game Thursday by defeating Duquesne, 3-2, at North Athletic
Complex. The Colonials finish their non-conference schedule 4-2-1 as they gear
up for conference play next Friday, Sept. 30, against Sacred Heart.
The Colonials had the first real chance of the contest
just 15 minutes into play. A quick counter-attack saw Devon Williams (Kingston,
Jamaica / Jamaican National Team) feed senior Shane Beharry (Scarborough,
Ontario / York University) 12 yards from net. However, Beharry's hard effort to
the near post was pushed aside by Colin Thorp.
Robert Morris did not miss on its next chance. A seemingly harmless free kick from midfield
by the Colonials resulted in the game's first score. Senior Justin Turnley
(Beaver, Pa. / Beaver) played the ball to the far right post where senior Shane Beharry (Scarborough, Ontario / York University) pounced on the misplayed
clear. Beharry's first touch beat the keeper and gave RMU the 1-0 lead in the
23rd minute.
A breakaway chance in the 27th minute for Dukes' (2-5-1)
forward Simon Gomez was erased when RMU senior Tyler Gardner (Whitefish, Mont.
/ Whitefish) caught him from behind and stole the ball clean.
Duquesne tied the game just under two minutes into the
second half. Senior goalkeeper Toba Bolaji (Vaughan, Ontario / Maple) got
caught in traffic attempting to clear a corner kick deep in the RMU box. Duquesne's
Adam Clement flicked the ball to the far post where Nathan McMann collected it
and casually finished into the vacated net.
An RMU corner kick in the 63rd minute by senior Matt Griffin (Bethel Park, Pa. / Bethel Park) was played high and soft to the far
post where Turnley elevated six yards from net. Rising above the defense,
Turnley's solid head strike slipped over the keeper and under the crossbar to
make it 2-1 Colonials. The marker was the first of Turnley's career.
Robert Morris added to the lead in the 85th
minute as a Duquesne turnover resulted in a golden opportunity for the Colonials.
Sophomore Daniel Calabretta (Brampton, Ontario / St. Marguerite d'Youville) jumped
on the miscue and played a ball through the middle of the Dukes defense where
classmate Miro Cabrilo (Hamilton, Ontario / Glendale Secondary) ripped an
uncontested shot to the left side.
Duquesne answered quickly with a header goal by Gomez.
His shot to the right side of the cage came off a short cross by Julio Perez to
the center of the box and made the game interesting with just 4:39 to play.
Bolaji finished with six saves in net for Robert Morris
while Colin Thorp turned aside two shots while allowing three goals.
