MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- After being held without a goal for the first time in the young 2019 season, the Robert Morris University women's soccer team is still in search of that first win.

In a 2-0 loss to Niagara on Saturday afternoon at the North Athletic Complex, a Colonials team with seven freshmen continued to find attacking consistency elusive. RMU (0-2-1) has scored two goals in its opening three games.

"Inexperience shows at the moment, but we're on the right path," RMU head coach John Kowalski said. "They outplayed us, but we need to continue in the direction we're going. There were some good things, but too inconsistent."

Junior goalkeeper Sydney Bruckner again stood tall between the sticks, denying nine shots -- including a couple of dazzlers on high-quality Niagara chances. But unlike last Sunday's comeback tie against Purdue Fort Wayne, there was no second-half offensive magic to be found, despite possession being split essentially down the middle.

After a relatively even first half that saw Niagara (2-1) hold a slight 10-8 edge in shots, the Colonials mustered just three shots in the final 45 minutes, affording Purple Eagles keeper Sabrina Locas a low-stress clean sheet.

"We didn't really test their keeper," Kowalski said. "They were a little more physical than us and won more individual duals. We can do a little bit better."

Senior midfielder Kristina Kelley paced the Colonials in shots with three, while freshman forward Kayla Veloso-Lima put a team-high two shots on target. However, RMU got just two drives on target in the second half, and both of those were from distance.

"Our fitness isn't quite where it needs to be at this point," Kowalski said. "(Niagara) played on Thursday and some of their players had more energy than ours."

It wasn't a terribly porous afternoon for the Colonials' defense, but a couple of marking errors proved costly.

In the 37th minute, Niagara's Veda Hensel split the RMU formation with a diagonal ball to the dynamic Kelsey Araujo, who barreled in on the right flank and beat Bruckner with a sharp finish. On 54 minutes, Araujo clipped in a cross to an uncovered Annie Ibey. The latter's left-footed first-time shot from 10 yards out was clinical into the side netting.

On the attacking side for RMU, the best chance probably arrived in the 22nd minute, with the match still scoreless. Freshman mid Angela Van Damia played an off-balance shot after fielding a corner kick, only to see a Purple Eagles defender block it down.

Robert Morris will test its persistence Monday afternoon, when it hosts another frequent foe from western New York: Canisius. Kickoff against the Golden Griffins is set for 1 p.m.