HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Bryan Akongo's first career goal helped lift the Robert Morris University men's soccer team over Northern Kentucky for its first win of the season Saturday night at the NKU Soccer Stadium. 

Junior keeper Mike Zolnierczyk made six saves to earn his first clean sheet of the season in the effort as well as RMU opens up Horizon League play with a victory.

It was the Norse who enjoyed the majority of the best chances in the game's early going, however slowly but surely the Colonials found their footing and began to push back against the NKU attack. 

A pair of stops from Zolnierczyk in the first seven minutes of action tested the keeper early, however the junior was in position to make both saves and help steady the ship for the Colonials. 

Akongo made his presence felt early on as well, firing one on target from about 16 yards out that was swallowed up by NKU keeper Daniel Bermingham. 

The Colonials continued to fire away at Bermingham on the counter as separate efforts from Gal Ben Dayan and Noe Bijou missed the mark. 

The pressure finally paid off for the Colonials in the 40' when Akongo managed to beat Bermingham with his third shot of the half, finding the back of the net for his first collegiate tally to give RMU the first lead of the game heading into the half.  

Another dangerous sequence to start the second saw RMU just narrowly miss on doubling their lead off a pair of corners as well as a strike from Hugo Kadima. Some nice pressure from the Colonials in the midfield as well as a nice stop on Dylan Bufton from Zolnierczyk at the other end in the 58' did well to help stymie NKU on the attack. 

One last save on Bufton in the 87' helped RMU secure its first win of the season. 

SCORING PLAYS 

40' - Akongo

QUICK HITS

Akongo scored the first goal of his NCAA career…Zolnierczyk made four saves for his first win and clean sheet of the year…RMU starts 1-0 in Horizon League play

QUOTABLES

"Our training has been really great all season, and it's great to see the guys get a reward for their work. We've played some really good teams, and obviously Northern Kentucky is as well. The ball bounced our way a little more tonight, but they're going to win a lot of games, so that's a big win for our guys. I'm really proud of their effort and togetherness, and now we just have to recover and get ready for Xavier." - Head Coach Jason O'Keefe 

NEXT UP

The Colonials return home to the North Athletic Complex to begin a two game stand when they host Xavier on Wednesday, September 15 at 2:00 PM.