Moon Township, Pa. – A brace from Robert Morris University men's soccer senior forward Zac Sherman was not enough this afternoon from the North Athletic Complex, as Northern Kentucky used three goals in a 23-minute span to top the Colonials, 3-2.
Sherman nearly matched his season total from last season in the contest, netting a pair of tallies in the 24th and 88th minutes. Robert Morris (0-3-1, 0-0-0 NEC) jumped ahead early with the senior's first goal, but Northern Kentucky (4-0-0, 0-0-0 NEC) and its high-powered attack grabbed an equalizer nine minutes later before taking control early in the second half.
RMU nearly went in front seconds after the opening touch as Cristian Palermo played Sherman into the box. The senior forward rounded the Norse keeper, but the angle was too tight to gain an early advantage.
Christian Snatchko, who was making his first career start in net for the Colonials, was on the top of his game early. He came up to make a save on Tom Suchecki in the third minute, dispelling of any pre-game jitters, and stopped an Alex Greive chance in the 10th minute.
After Roald Aas Ravlum forced a save out of Jim Barkei in the 23rd minute, RMU regained possession and rewarded itself with the match's opening goal. Palermo sent a ball over the top to Sherman, who got behind the NKU back line. The senior caught Barkei charging forward and managed to chip it over his head, bouncing the ball into the net for his first goal of the season.
The Norse found an answer in the 33rd minute. Connor Probert swung a corner kick near the touchline, where a mess of bodies were located. Somehow it found the head of Alex Willis, who caught enough of the pass to bury a header to knot the match at 1-1.
NKU took the lead in the 50th minute off another set piece. The Norse took a free kick that bounced around for a brief moment, before Willis headed it over to Calvin Murphy, who skipped it just inside the right post. Six minutes later, Snatchko made the initial point-blank save on Willis, but Alex Greive was there to slot home the rebound.
An urgent Colonial side pushed to get back into the game following NKU's third goal, but it wasn't until the 88th minute where it pulled one back. Ravlum let loose an over-the-top pass to Sherman from midfield, connecting with him as he closed towards the 18. Barkei again charged forward to dislodge the ball, but the senior chipped it over his head to make it a one-goal game.
Snatchko made six saves in the defeat.
Palermo collected his first collegiate point with the assist on Sherman's first tally.
Robert Morris is back in action on Saturday, Sept. 8 at 3:00 p.m. when it travels to Longwood.
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