Moon Township, Pa. – Junior forward
Neco Brett scored four times in the second half to lift the
Robert Morris University men's soccer team to a 4-0 win against George Washington at North Athletic Complex Sunday afternoon. The victory wraps up the non-conference portion of the Robert Morris schedule and evens its season mark at 5-5-1. George Washington slips to 4-5 with the result.
Brett's four goals are the second most by a Colonial player, one behind the record set by Troy Fabiano against Canisius in 1993. Brett joins Fabiano, Said Ali and Jacek Przednowek to become the fourth RMU player to finish a contest with four markers.
Speedy Williams set up three of those goals. He is the sixth player to tally three assists in a game. Only Marco Patitucci has been credited with more assists in a game with five against Saint Francis U. in 1994.
After a scoreless first half, Williams and Brett hooked up for the first of three times. A give-and-go play ended with Williams chipping a ball through the GW defense to a running Brett. Brett, looked up, saw keeper Jean-Pierre van der Merwe off his line and chipped him from 25 yards out.
Williams and Brett connected again in the 63
rd minute, this time a ball by Williams down the right wing setting Brett free. He saw van der Merwe well off his line again and sent a shot from 50 yards away that sank under the crossbar and over the GW keeper.
Ten minutes later, the Jamaican tandem was at it again.
Corey McCurdy won a ball in midfield, found Williams who then set Brett alone on goal. Brett took one touch before placing a shot low and right to make it a 3-0 RMU lead.
Carl Reid, another Jamaican, set up Brett's fourth goal of the game and 12
th of the season in the 88
th minute. Reid carried the ball with speed down the right wing, cut toward goal and hit a low cross to the center of the box where Brett was left alone for an easy tap-in score.
George Washington's best chance to score came in the 21
st minute when a dubious handball call was made against RMU resulting in a penalty kick.
Brenden Alfery, however, was up to the task, preserving the clean sheet by sprawling to his left to turn aside the 12-yard attempt by Angel Valencia. It was the second time this season Alfery has stopped a penalty kick attempt.
Alfery finished the game with six saves to earn the shutout. It gives him two shutouts on the year. van der Merwe finished with four saves as each team registered 13 shots. RMU held a slight advantage in corner kicks, 5-4.
The Colonials begin Northeast Conference play next Friday, Oct. 10, when they travel to Bryant for a 3:00 p.m. game.
