Moon Township, Pa. – An early goal in the first half and strong performance from the Robert Morris University women's soccer defense allowed the Colonials to score their first Northeast Conference (NEC) victory of the season as they defeated LIU Brooklyn, 1-0, this afternoon from the North Athletic Complex.
Despite being outshot 19-11 and 9-4 on target, Robert Morris (3-11, 1-3 NEC) came away with the result after withstanding an early batch of LIU Brooklyn (1-12, 0-4 NEC) pressure by scoring the game's lone goal just eight minutes in.
Makenzie Shearson came away with her third clean sheet of the season, needing eight saves against a relentless Blackbird attack to do so. Shearson was up to the task early, stopping a pair of point blank shots from a corner kick in the third minute.
RMU capitalized on the shift of momentum as it found the back of the net five minutes later. Kasia Bak corralled a turnover in the midfield and one-touched it forward to Jane Schleicher, who raced past the LIU right back. With just the goalkeeper to beat, Schleicher calmly carried the ball into the box before slotting it far post for her team-leading third goal of the season.
The Colonials had a couple chances to double their lead soon after. Antonia Grese tested the Blackbird netminder with a strike in the 13th minute, and Bak saw her attempt six minutes later blocked by the visiting backline.
LIU regained the possession edge over the remainder of the first half, keeping Shearson and the RMU back four on their toes. The graduate transfer goalkeeper made a trio of stops between the 32nd and 35th minutes, while the Blackbirds had six other chances miss the target.
The hosts continued their search for a second tally in the early moments of the second half, and gave themselves a couple of dangerous chances. Erin Ritzer was the first to try, but her rip was deflected by a LIU defender. Grese and Schleicher then threatened the scoreboard in the 53rd minute when the senior headed it into the box for the sophomore, but the goalscorer's volley struck the crossbar.
The Blackbirds about had their equalizer in the 61st minute when a corner kick into the box was backheeled towards the far post, but Kayla Kelley was there to clear it off the line. LIU tried its luck again with another corner; however, Shearson stood tall and saved a header attempt.
The game slowed down right after, with the Blackbirds testing Shearson just once more in the 78th minute. The visitors earned two more corner kicks in the late stages, but nothing came of them.
A short turnaround awaits Robert Morris as it travels to Mount St. Mary's on Sunday, Oct. 16 at 1:00 p.m. in search of its second NEC win.
