CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The
Robert Morris University men's soccer team opened a two-match non-conference road swing with a 4-0 loss at Cleveland State on Wednesday night.
The Colonials (0-3) were held off the scoresheet for the second consecutive game, as CSU limited them to just four shots.
Vikings keeper Omeed Naeemy stopped the three attempts that were on target -- one each from
Christian Coridon,
Ethan Romito and
Cristian Palermo.
At the other end of the artificial surface at Krenzler Field, Colonials senior keeper
Christian Snatchko also stopped three in his season debut.
But Cleveland State (1-0-1) connected for three first-half goals, including one by RMU nemesis Gabriel Pewu, who scored his fourth goal in three career games against the Colonials when he stuck a driving shot into the side netting.
Pewu's goal made it 2-0 at the half-hour mark, but the real backbreaker for RMU happened just before the stroke of halftime. Snatchko was called for a foul inside the penalty area when he attempted to knock a pass away from a Vikings attacker, but got more body than ball. CSU's Thomas M'Barek stepped up and buried the ensuing penalty kick under the crossbar.
The Colonials were unable to mount a rally in the second half, putting the onus on them to earn a result Saturday at La Salle. Kickoff in Philadelphia is set for 3 p.m.
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