Moon Township, Pa. – The
Robert Morris University men's soccer team was unable to capitalize on several scoring chances before suffering a 1-0 loss to LIU Brooklyn in a Northeast Conference game at North Athletic Complex Friday afternoon.
The Colonials (5-8-1, 0-3-0 NEC) outshot LIU 10-4 in the first half but had nothing on the scoreboard to show for it. A give-and-go between
Speedy Williams and
Neco Brett ended with Williams' shot skipping past the right post from 16 yards. Just three minutes later,
Rafael Bruzual came up with a steal that turned into a breakaway. His shot from 10 yards, however, was corralled by LIU keeper Logan Keys. The best RMU chance came with two minutes left in the first half when a through-ball from
Bruce Cullen found Brett, the nation's leading scorer, 12 yards from net. His shot beat Keys, but not Blackbirds back Tanner Sica who cleared the ball off the line with a sliding effort.
David Nuernberg did capitalize on one of the few LIU (3-8-0, 2-0-0 NEC) chances. Controlling the ball in the offensive third, he unleashed a bullet from 35-yards out that slid just under the crossbar and gave the visiting squad the game's only goal in the 59th minute.
The Colonials continued to pressure late into the contest as a
Jared Latchford header was stopped by Keys in the 88th minute.
Jake Cooper fired a laser that was headed for the near post, but again Keys reacted in time to send the shot out for a corner kick in the 90th minute.
Keys finished the game with eight saves to earn the shutout, the first of the year for the Blackbirds. RMU outshot LIU, 16-10, for the game and held the advantage in corner kicks, 8-4.
Robert Morris returns to the pitch for a 1:00 p.m. match against St. Francis Brooklyn Sunday, Oct. 19.
