PITTSBURGH, Pa. - The Robert Morris University men's soccer team faces a pair of conference matchups this week when they take on Oakland and Wright State Wednesday and Saturday evening.
Robert Morris (1-7-0, 1-2-0 Horizon League) vs. Oakland (2-4-1, 1-1-0 Horizon League)
Wednesday, September 29 at 2:00 p.m. at the North Athletic Complex
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Robert Morris (1-7-0, 1-2-0 Horizon League) vs. Wright State (3-4-0, 2-1-0 Horizon League)
Saturday, October 2 at 7:00 p.m. in Fort Wayne, Indiana
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LAST TIME OUT
Although they out-shot Saint Francis 8-2 last Wednesday, a snake bitten Colonials squad failed to convert any of their chances despite the tilted field, dropping a 1-0 showdown in Loretto.
Preston Rushmore's first career goal hi-lighted the Colonials showdown at Purdue Fort Wayne three days later, however it was not enough to overcome a 3-0 deficit as RMU fell 3-1. Connor Hain also picked up his first career point with an assist on Rushmore's tally.
STATS TO KNOW
Rushmore became the fifth Colonial to score his first collegiate goal this season, joining Tom Akinola, Bryan Akongo, Gal Ben Dayan and Owen Jowett who have all found the back of the net for the first time this year.
At 1-2 in Horizon League play, the Colonials are currently in a six-way tie for third place in the league table with three total points. At a perfect 3-0, Cleveland State sits atop the HL table with nine points, while UIC, Milwaukee, and Wright State all sit at 2-1 with six total points.
TEAM LEADERS
RMU has scored five goals from five different scorers this year, with Rushmore, Akinola, Akongo, Ben Dayan and Jowett currently tied for the team lead with one apiece, while Hugo Kadima, Akongo and Hain have one assist each. Akongo leads them in overall scoring with three points.
Three Colonials have started all eight games so far for RMU: Akongo, Hain, and Kelvin Ramirez.
Mike Zolnierczyk became the first RMU keeper to earn a win earlier this season and currently sits at 1-3 on the year.
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN GRIZZLIES
RMU will face Oakland for the third consecutive year, still searching for their first win after losses in 2019 and 2020.
At 2-4-1 overall this season, the Golden Grizzlies are 1-1 in HL play after a 2-0 loss against UIC last Saturday and are averaging 1.14 goals for per game, tied for fourth-best in the conference.
Preseason picks to win the league, Oakland stumbled against the Flames last week, however their lineup still boasts some serious depth as the likes of Noah Jensen, Dylan Borczak, and Charlie Braithwaite all return for their final seasons.
SCOUTING THE RAIDERS
The Colonials are looking for their first win against WSU since the 2013 season and their first as members of the Horizon League after falling to the Raiders 1-0 last season at SouthPointe Fieldhouse.
WSU is 2-1 in HL play this year and is riding a two-game win streak following a 3-1 victory against Green Bay and a 2-1 OT win at Northern Kentucky.
Set to play Milwaukee on Wednesday the 29th, the Raiders have struggled to keep the ball out of their own net this season, the owners of a league-worst 2.43 goals-against average.
NEXT UP
The Colonials are in action just once next week, hosting the UIC Flames on Saturday, October 9 at 2:00 PM at the NAC.
