Moon Township, Pa. – The
Robert Morris University women's soccer team slipped to 0-2 on the season following a 3-1 loss to Central Michigan at North Athletic Complex Sunday afternoon. The Colonials will have to go to the road for the next four games seeking their first victory of the season.
Both teams took the opening 45 minutes to feel each other out, deploying similar defend and counterattack strategies. The Chippewas were better at it, developing 14 shots but could not beat RMU starting goalkeeper
Makenzie Shearson who made five saves in the opening 45 minutes.
A quick counterattack by the Chippewas on their first possession of the second half resulted in the match's first score. Just 38 seconds after the intermission, Jamie Rademacher controlled the ball at the top of the penalty box. Her hard shot beat RMU keeper
Serena Donmoyer, who came in at halftime, high to break the scoreless tie.
The Colonials equalized just three minutes after the Central Michigan score by taking advantage of their first corner kick of the game.
Kristina Kelley sent a diagonal pass into the box after a scramble just outside the penalty area.
Theresa Laux was waiting there and sent her first touch inside the right post for her first marker of the season.
With play opened up from the conservative first half, Savannah Beetcher sent a hard pass toward the box from the right sideline. Samantha Maher deflected the across the box to Alexis Pelafas who was charging hard from the left wing. Pelafas shot was true, her third marker of the season giving Central Michigan a 2-1 lead in the 65th minute.
Pelafas then iced the game with a late charge from the right wing. Carrying forty yards into the box, she took one touch right and made just enough space past a Colonial defender to sneak a shot from 12 yards out inside the left post.
The Chippewas outshot RMU, 25-9, and had 11 corner kicks to three for Robert Morris. Donmoyer finished with three saves for the Colonials while Kristen Knutson stopped two of the three shots RMU put on goal.
Robert Morris begins its four-game with a 7:00 p.m. game at Niagara on Friday, Aug. 26.
