Moon Township, Pa. – A penalty kick in the 27th minute was the difference this afternoon as the Robert Morris University women's soccer team fell to Central Connecticut, 1-0, in Northeast Conference (NEC) action from the North Athletic Complex.
Robert Morris (3-9-0, 1-1-0 NEC) didn't have many chances offensively, only attempting two shots after a 19-3 difference in that department on Friday. The Colonials defense stopped 10 of 11 shots on goal from Central Connecticut (7-1-2, 1-0-0 NEC), eight courtesy of Sydney Bruckner saves with another two cleared off the line.
One of those last-second clears came in the seventh minute when a Danielle Pearse shot bounced past Bruckner. Samantha Lackner sprinted towards the line, clearing it out of harm's way at the nick of time.
RMU had one of its best scoring chances in the 11th minute, but Megan DiNatale's cross into the box just missed the head of Keirsten Van Horn.
The Colonials were called for a handball in the box in the 27th minute, conceding a penalty to the Blue Devils. Charlotte Maurer stepped up to take it, sending Bruckner the wrong way to give the visitors a lead.
RMU responded with a brief spell of possession on the other end, eventually finding Kristina Kelley on the edge of the 18. Kelley's attempt skirted on the wrong side of the left post.
Bruckner's best stop came in the 39th minute as she denied Tess Atkinson at the doorstep with a kick save.
The Colonials generated a pair of solid chances to begin the second half. In the 48th minute, Bailey Farabaugh found Taylor Burkley on the left side of the 18, but Burkley ripped one wide of the post. A couple minutes later, Kristina Kelley took a free kick from the right sideline, narrowly missing the head of Jane Schleicher inside the 18.
Robert Morris hits the road for its next match, taking on Fairleigh Dickinson at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 30.
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