Box Score
Moon Township, Pa. / North Athletic Complex – The
Robert Morris University men's soccer team controlled play but was unable to capitalize on numerous offensive opportunities in a 1-0 loss to Bryant in the Northeast Conference opener for both teams. The Colonials see their four-game win streak come to an end as they move to 5-4-2 overall and 0-1-0 in the league. The Bulldogs are now 4-6 and 1-0 in the NEC.
The Colonials outshot the visiting Bulldogs, 20-9, but managed to find the net on just four of those 20 shots. Twice RMU found the woodwork and Bryant keeper Chris Knaub was able to get enough of the four shots on goal to earn the clean sheet.
Despite a fast start by RMU, it was the visitors who had the first chance of the game in the seventh minute. Bryant junior Ryan Kalan missed a golden opportunity as he pounced on a soft pass back to the keeper to create a breakaway. His shot from just inside the box rolled wide of the left post, however.
The game rolled into halftime with RMU holding a 9-4 lead in shots and the Colonials created their best chances of the contest just after the break. Junior
Carl Reid (Kingston, Jamaica / St. Georges) won a ball in the Bryant box and tried to the pick the right corner with a quick stab from 14 yards. Knaub made the save, but
Neco Brett (Kingston, Jamaica / Excelsior) was there to pounce on the rebound. His on-the-run shot caught the right post solid and careened out of danger.
Bryant broke the scoreless deadlock in the 71
st minute. A shot from 20 yards out by Marco Addonizio was stopped by RMU freshman keeper
Joseph Kuta (Mississauga, Ontario / St. Joan of Arc), but the rebound rolled directly out to Kalan who made no mistake in putting the rebound home.
The Colonials continued to pressure, pushing more men forward, but Knaub and Bulldogs defense was able to survive 11 second half shots. Knaub finished the game with four saves while Kuta had two stops.
Robert Morris returns to the pitch Sunday, Oct. 13, to host the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights in a Noon contest at North Athletic Complex.
