MILWAUKEE, Wisc. - The Robert Morris University men's soccer team saw its season come to a close Sunday with a 1-0 loss to the Milwaukee Panthers in the Horizon League Tournament quarterfinals.

Bryan Akongo led RMU with four total shots as the Colonials made their Horizon League postseason debut and end the 2021 campaign with a 5-11-1 (4-6-1 Horizon League) record.

Though the Panthers enjoyed an edge in possession, the Colonials defense did well to contain them in the attacking third of the field, forcing them to play mostly out of the back for long stretches.

Grant Glorioso made four stops in the first half to help the Colonials keep MKE contained, including a spectacular dividing stop on Milwaukee's Hugo Espejo in the 27'.

Bryan Akongo and Nathaniel David looked to provide the spark offensively at the other end, both earning good looks at the Panther net.

A nice run and passing sequence from Akongo and Tom Akinola helped set up Charlie Lawrence with a strike from the top of the box that just missed high. Minutes later Akongo missed high from nearly the same spot.

Akongo nearly broke the ice again in the 40' when David's short-range strike led to a rebound near the post, however the Panthers keeper was able to cover up before the freshmen could take advantage.

One more big stop from Glorioso on Raul Medina in the 41' punctuated a scoreless first for RMU.

Colton Spence kept the pressure up for RMU in the second, just missing wide on a shot from inside the box for his first good look of the game.

Evan Lamarca's blast from 20 yards out struck the outside of the post, while Owen Jowett was dispossessed before he could get a shot off after working his way down the right wing.

With under five minutes to play in regulation and overtime looming, the Panthers finally broke through with a header from Paolo Gratton that beat Glorioso to give MKE the go-ahead goal.

They would hold on for the final four minutes to take the game 1-0.

SCORING PLAYS

86' - Gratton, Assist: Vaknin, Farrington

QUICK HITS

RMU ends the season 4-6-1 in Horizon League…Akongo led RMU with four total shots

QUOTABLES 

"I'm really proud of the team today. They competed, played together and executed a lot of the game plan. We will learn from this experience and get to work in the spring to make more strides in 2022. I want to thank our three seniors Gustaf, Nate and Lorenzó for all they have put into the RMU program during their time. They should all be very proud of their work." - Head Coach Jason O'Keefe