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Men's Soccer

Alfery Brilliant In Debut As RMU Ties Hartwick

Junior transfer Brenden Alfery stops nine shots in his RMU debut

Brenden Alfery makes one of his nine saves, this one on a point-blank shot in the 38th minute.
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Moon Township, Pa. – Junior goalkeeper Brenden Alfery made nine saves while anchoring the Robert Morris University men's soccer team in a 1-1 draw with Hartwick in the season-opener for both teams at North Athletic Complex Friday afternoon.
 
Of those nine saves by Alfery, none was bigger than the one that came on a penalty shot at the start of the second overtime period. Hartwick's Chris Walter lined up for the shot after an alleged handball was called against in the Colonials in their own box. As Walter hit his shot, Alfery reacted decisively, lunging to his right to parry the free chance wide of the post.
 
"I just looked at his body language and where his hips were lining up, and at the last second I saw his eyes go to the far corner so I knew he was going to my right," said Alfery. "I took an early step and I ended up getting there."



Hartwick took the lead in the 40th minute as Jamie O'Grady sent a long, low cross from the left wing to the far post. It was there that Dean Fowler slid with his right leg extended, poking the ball past Alfery.
 
Another transfer would come up with a nice play on the offensive end of the field, setting up the game-tying score for the Colonials. Ryan Vilella, a redshirt freshman from Xavier, was able to hold off a defender while controlling the ball at the top of the Hartwick box. He then poked a ball through the Hawks defense where Neco Brett was able to collect a deflection and put his right-footed shot inside the right post for the equalizer in the 80th minute.
 
"I thought we were a little sloppy today," said RMU head coach Bill Denniston. "We've been really good in practice and I think we have a good squad. I think we came in a pinch overconfident and Hartwick played hard. It was a good game. It could have been 3-3."


 
The Colonials were outshot by the Hawks, 18-10, but did hold a 6-4 advantage in the second half. Tom Buckner had two saves between the Hartwick pipes.
 
Robert Morris returns to its home pitch Sunday, Aug. 31, when they host Rider in a 1:00 p.m. game.

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