Moon Township, Pa. – The
Robert Morris University women's soccer team is going to the Northeast Conference Tournament for the first time in team history following a 3-0 win against Mount St. Mary's at North Athletic Complex Friday afternoon. The Colonials, now 9-9 overall and 5-2 in league play, have 15 points and are guaranteed to be one to the top four teams in the conference when the NEC Tournament begins on Nov. 6.
"It's a great feeling. The team played with a lot of pride today," said RMU head coach
John Kowalski. "Beginning in late September and carrying in to October, we started playing better and better. We had a good feeling we were going to win the game today.
"Sometime during the trip to Arizona, we started believing in ourselves and believing that we can win. Somewhere, there was a mental crossover and we started to believe that 'Yes, we can win.' And we have been playing with that attitude since that time, always confident that we can create some chances."
The Colonials dominated play from kick-off Friday, controlling the tempo throughout the game. Several optimistic attacks early on were fruitless, but a strong run out of the defensive third helped Robert Morris break through.
Hanna Seybold made a run down the right wing from her defensive position, sending a cross to the far post.
Gabrielle Corrente was there to head it home, tallying her third goal and putting RMU on top in the 35th minute.
Robert Morris doubled its lead in the 60th minute, again finding room along the right wing. This time, it was
Lauren Sulkowski who sent a cross into the box. Her pass found the head of
Erin Ritzer who redirected the ball back the right post for her fourth of the season.
The speed of
Cassie Raymond set up the third and final goal in the 71st minute. The speedy senior forward beat Mount keeper Vicky Cocozza to a through ball, but her tough angle shot from the left side was blocked by a Mountaineers defender.
Lauren Sulkowski, however, was in position to take advantage and sent her second goal of the year inside the right post of an empty net.
Chelsea de Jager, who came up with a huge save in the 10th minute to keep the game scoreless, recorded four saves for her second clean sheet of the season. Rachel Bourne and Cocozza combined for nine saves as RMU outshot their visiting league foe, 20-7.
Robert Morris rounds out the regular season schedule Sunday, Nov. 1, when they host league-leading Fairleigh Dickinson in an 11:00 a.m. match at North Athletic Complex.
