Baltimore, Md. - The Robert Morris University women's soccer team dropped its season opener against the UMBC Retrievers, 3-1 Thursday night at Retriever Park.

Haleigh Finale scored her first career NCAA goal for RMU in the loss. 

Despite an early bout of pressure for the Colonials, UMBC managed to strike early Thursday evening, getting loose behind the RMU backline on the counter before Caroline Koutsos finally finished off the sequence with a low shot into the near corner to make it 1-0 in the 6'.

Gabriella Lecuona answered with a dangerous looking strike of her own that was saved minutes later, however it was soon 2-0 UMBC following another defensive breakdown that allowed Juliana Rafaniello to cut through the box and slot her effort low on goal to widen the lead.

The Retrievers tacked on a third goal in the 20' for a 3-0 lead.  The Colonials began to find their footing offensively towards the end of the first, earning dangerous looks from Kassidy Fischer and Kaoru Hayashi, however the deficit remained at three.

The Colonials continued to hunt for a goal in the second, nearly cutting it to 3-1 after Finale made a nice run down the wing, however the sophomore's effort hit the post.

Finale finally broke through for Robert Morris in the 76', firing a low strike inside the near post after a Hayashi free kick for her first collegiate tally to make it a two goal game with fourteen minutes to play. 

A late push from RMU failed to produce another goal as UMBC held on for the 3-1 win. 

SCORING PLAYS 

6' - Koutsos, Assist: Rafaniello

14' - Rafaniello, Assist: Stevenson 

20' - Rafaniello, Assist: Harvey

76' - Finale, Assist: Hurey

QUICK HITS 

Finale recorded her first career NCAA goal…Courtney Hurey recorded her fourth career assist…Isabella Bohlen, Emily Rocco, Morgan Guelas, Kassidy Fischer, Kennedy Lazenby, Ally Krieger and and Cierra Gann all made their Colonials debut…Finale and Hayashi led RMU with four total shots

NEXT UP

The Colonials return to action this Saturday, August 21 when they face Mount St. Mary's in Emmitsburg, Md. at 1:00 p.m.