Moon Township, Pa. – The Robert Morris University women's soccer team fell in its final home non-conference contest to Akron, 3-1, this afternoon from the North Athletic Complex.
Robert Morris (2-7-0, 0-0-0 NEC) owned the shots on goal advantage, 11-9, while Akron (3-4-1, 0-0-0 MAC) matched the Colonials with 13 shot attempts. Carly Pcholinsky registered a brace for the visiting zips, netting the opener and the eventual game-winner.
After a quiet opening 12 minutes, Akron started to take control going into the 13th. Julia Schmid – making her second straight start – charged up to block an attempt from Ashley Amato, then made a spectacular save on Shea O'Brien in the 18th minute. O'Brien's free kick was curling towards the far upper 90, but Schmid fully extended herself to touch it over the bar.
After missing the last two games, Kristina Kelley returned to action in the 25th minute and immediately generated some offense, setting up Jane Schleicher for an attempt in the box that was gloved by Erin McKinney.
Pcholinsky broke through in the 32nd minute when he she found herself behind the backline and poked it past Schmid.
RMU responded with three substitutions after the goal and found an equalizer 16 seconds later. Keli Rosensteel carried the ball down the left flank before flipping it to Schleicher, who beat McKinney at the far post for her eighth goal of the season.
Bailey Farabaugh found herself in on goal 25 seconds later but was stopped by McKinney. Schleicher then forced a pair of saves out of the Zips netminder and dragged a third attempt wide of the marker, and Keirsten Van Horn had a shot gloved to close the half.
The Colonials kept that momentum going into the second frame, forcing three more saves out of McKinney courtesy of Brittany O'Connell and Taylor Burkley. Akron withstood the pressure and got back on track, tallying the game-winner in the 66th minute. After winning a free kick about 30 yards out on the left flank, Erica Schrader's cross nicked the head of Pcholinsky for the score.
The Zips added a third in the 78th minute when Lauren Lambert found the back of the net.
Schmid and Sydney Bruckner each made three saves in defeat.
Schleicher has now matched her goal total from last season and moved into sole possession of third place at RMU in career goals (19). She also ranks fourth in career points (42), and second in both points per game (1.02) and goals per game (0.46).
Robert Morris will face one more non-conference test before beginning Northeast Conference (NEC) play as it travels to play Yale on Sunday, Sept. 16.
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