Oneonta, N.Y. – Despite scoring the opening goal, the Robert Morris University men's soccer team fell to Niagara, 2-1, this afternoon in Mayor's Cup competition from Elmore Field.
Robert Morris (0-5-0, 0-0-0 NEC) doubled Niagara's (1-4-0, 0-0-0 MAAC) shots on goal (6-3) and corner kick attempts (10-5), but two second half goals within nine minutes of each other were enough to push the Purple Eagles ahead.
The Colonials raced out of the gates, earning three corner kicks in the span of just over a minute. The last one taken by Keane McIvor connected with Christopher Coridon, but his header was saved by Joel Gerberich for another corner.
RMU scored in the 29th minute as McIvor's left-footed strike forced Gerberich into a save, leaving an open goal on the ricochet for Bayley Winkel. Winkel's fourth goal of the campaign came on the fifth assist for McIvor this season, tying his team-high mark from 2016.
Neither side could gain an edge in the second half until the 51st minute, when Niagara earned a free kick. Zulfikar Karimi's cross deflected past the keeper, giving an empty net to Asante Carroll for the equalizer.
Carroll made it a brace and gave the Purple Eagles the lead in the 60th minute as he carried down the left side and finished at the far post.
The Colonials ramped up the pressure, getting a shot on net from McIvor just 17 seconds after the goal. Another attempt of his was blocked in the 64th minute, and soon after a pair of corner kicks were cleared away.
McIvor generated a game-high four shots in the loss. Winter Fondi made a save in between the sticks.
Robert Morris concludes Mayor's Cup play on Sunday, Sept. 10 at noon when it faces Fairfield.
