Moon Township, Pa. – For the first time since the 2015 season, the Robert Morris University women's soccer team earned a victory in its Northeast Conference (NEC) opener as it came back from an early deficit to defeat Wagner, 2-1, this afternoon from a sunny and blustery North Athletic Complex.
Robert Morris (3-8-0, 1-0-0 NEC) was led by the duo of Jane Schleicher and Kristina Kelley, who each found the scoresheet. Schleicher and Kelley entered the season as the NEC's leading returning scoring duo, having amassed 44 points (17g, 10a) between the two of them in 2017.
Despite the early deficit, the Colonials dominated possession and generated 19 shot attempts – 12 being on net – to Wagner's (1-8-0, 0-1-0 NEC) three. Schleicher in particular fired 10 shots, with eight being on target. The 10 shot attempts are the most for a RMU player in eight seasons (10, Ayana Davis vs. Howard; Sept. 23, 2010) and tied for the second most in single-game program history.
The Seahawks opened the scoring 46 seconds into the match when Maria Nunez found herself alone in the box off a Luisa Barone cross and slotted it home. The hosts nearly answered in the fifth minute, when Kelley headed one into the box for Schleicher, but Katie Viscardi was up to make a save.
Kelley netted her first goal of the season in the seventh minute. Bailey Farabaugh skirted a pass to the junior forward along the 18 line, and she carried it to her left before finishing with a low shot inside the far right post.
Schleicher's eventual winner came in the 30th minute when she dribbled it from the left flank into the right side of box, then burying a grounder inside the far left post. The senior forward's ninth goal of the season moves her into a tie for sixth in single-season history and five shy of tying the school record.
In the 36th minute, Schleicher had another chance to add to her total when she pulled down in the box for a penalty kick. Her attempt was saved by Viscardi at the left post, but the rebound fell to Kelley who skied it just over the bar.
Sydney Bruckner created a scoring chance in the 58th minute, getting a bounce on her punt to find Schleicher behind the back line. The senior tried to chip it over Viscardi, but she was able to leap up and intercept.
Wagner earned itself a pair of corner kicks in the final 11 minutes, but the Colonial defense held strong and didn't allow a shot attempt.
Schleicher remains third all-time at RMU in goals (20) and fourth in points (44). Kelley moved into a tie for 10th in goals (11) and 11th in points (31) with her tally.
RMU's last victory in an NEC opener came on Oct. 9, 2015 when it defeated Sacred Heart, 3-2. That Colonials squad would ultimately finish a 5-3-0 mark in conference, earning the program's first NEC Tournament berth and subsequent championship game appearance.
Robert Morris completes its NEC-opening home stand on Sunday, Sept. 23 at noon when it hosts Central Connecticut.
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