Moon Township, Pa. – In a battle for Colonial supremacy, it was George Washington University that topped the Robert Morris University men's soccer team, 2-0, this afternoon from a sunny North Athletic Complex.
George Washington (4-2-3, 0-0-0 CAA) picked up a goal late in the first half after Robert Morris (3-5-0, 0-0-0 NEC) had the better chances, using that momentum to control the final 45 minutes of play.
RMU's first dangerous opportunity came shortly after the opening whistle blew as junior midfielder Keane McIvor sent a long pass into the box. Third-year forward Rafael Bruzual chased it down, but there was little space between him and GWU goalkeeper Thor Arne Hofs, which led to a low shot that was saved.
In the 11th minute, junior midfielder Bayley Winkel won a long ball at the edge of the penalty area and centered it to second-year midfielder Lucas Puntillo, but Puntillo's attempt flew wide of the net. McIvor provided another opportunity three minutes later on a free kick; however, senior midfielder Curran Edland's shot missed the target.
The Keystone State's Colonials generated a second shot on goal in the 17th minute when sophomore forward Zac Sherman won a 50-50 ball and passed it to McIvor in the box. Hofs closed in once again and managed to get a foot on McIvor's rip towards the far post.
GWU struck in the 36th minute when Christian Lawal finished in the box. A long pass from Oliver De Thier split the defenders and found the feet of Lawal, who then just needed one touch before ripping a shot past RMU junior goalkeeper Winter Fondi.
RMU about had an equalizer in the closing moments of the first half when Bruzual gathered the ball in the box. With a defender draped around him, the junior forward juggled the ball before ripping a bicycle kick towards the wrong side of the post.
The visitors forced Fondi into a pair saves early in the second half as Garrett Heine and Alastair Berry had their cracks at goal. The third-year goalkeeper pushed aside every challenge he faced until the 86th minute, when a strong hold-up in the box by De Their allowed him to head a Heine cross into the netting.
Fondi made four saves in the defeat, while Hofs needed to stop three attempts to secure the shutout.
Robert Morris hits the road for a two-game road swing next, starting on Saturday, Oct. 1 at 5:00 p.m. against Howard University. The bout with the Bison is the Colonials' last non-conference match before beginning Northeast Conference (NEC) play on Friday, Oct. 7 at Fairleigh Dickinson.
