Moon Township, Pa. – It was a tale of two halves as the Robert Morris University women's soccer team suffered a 2-1 setback to the Howard Bison in a non-conference game at North Athletic Complex Tuesday afternoon.
 
Unfortunately for the Colonials (2-7-1), it was the Bison (1-7-1) who made the most of their opportunities. Howard came out in the first half and was able to possess the ball, scoring twice in the opening frame to take what proved to be an insurmountable lead.
 
The Bison's first shot of the game in the eighth minute was also the game's first goal. Whitney White carried the ball the deep to the RMU endline before playing a low pass to the center of the box. Nia Walcott collected it there, cut back to her right and placed a shot inside the near right post.
 
Jordan Bynoe set up the Bison's second goal by stealing the ball in the right corner, then hitting a long cross back to the middle of the field where Dytria Ruddy was running to goal all alone. Ruddy took one touch before chipping a shot over RMU keeper Becky Schoenecker to tally her first score of the season in the 34th minute.
 
After the intermissioin, the Colonials dominated play, taking 11 shots and earning 11 corners. They were, however, unable to take advantage of any of those chances during play. Shots from inside the penalty box went well wide, while optimistic opportunities from distance were easily scooped up by Bisons keeper Kyra Dickinson.
 
Maleha Kureishy did manage to score her first career goal in the 76th minute when a Howard defender took out senior Katie Austin in the box. Kureishy placed the ensuing penalty kick low and right, cutting the deficit to 2-1.


 
Robert Morris outshot the Bison, 19-10, and held a 13-2 advantage in corner kicks. But Dickinson finished with seven saves for Howard. Schoenecker had two saves for RMU.
 
The Colonials wrap up non-conference play when they host UMBC in a 3:00 p.m. game Friday, Sept. 26.