Rochester, Mich. – Despite forcing a penalty shootout and playing a man down for over 90 minutes, the Robert Morris University men's soccer team played to a 2-2 tie at Oakland, who will advance after securing a 6-5 shootout victory in the quarterfinals of the Horizon League tournament.
The Colonials conclude the 2022 season with a 6-7-3 overall record and a 4-3-2 mark in league action. Meanwhile, the Golden Grizzlies stand at 4-9-5 this season with a 4-2-3 mark in conference action.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
It didn't take long for Robert Morris to get on the board and gain control as sophomore
Charlie Lawrence took a free kick and placed it into the box that found junior
Chase Gilley, who put a header to the back of the net at the 8:28 mark, 1-0. After two shots and a corner kick by the Golden Grizzlies, a red card was distributed to the Colonials, forcing them to play a man down for the remainder of the contest. The two teams combined for three shots over the next six minutes. Oakland would record six-straight shots and a corner kick to end the half as the RMU defense was stout in the opening 45 minutes, while continuing to play a man down.
It was a slow start to the second half as neither team could grab control early. After both teams registered a corner kick, the Colonial defense continued to battle as the Golden Grizzlies played a majority of the half on the offensive. Oakland got on the board at the 68:31 mark when Gabriel Baylon knotted the score, 1-1. Over the next eight minutes, the Golden Grizzlies peppered sophomore goalkeeper
Friedrich Petrelli with shots as he collected four saves in that span. The teams tallied four shots and three corner kicks as they headed to overtime.
EXTRA SOCCER
In the first overtime, RMU looked to take the lead when junior
Logan Gilley fired a shot on goal that was saved by keeper Michael Sly Jr. Oakland took the lead for the first time all afternoon when Charlie Retzer found the back of the net in the 96th minute. In the second overtime, RMU was aggressive and determined as they played mostly on the offensive. After a yellow card was distributed to Oakland, sophomore
Lucas Shearer took the free kick and placed it to the top right corner of the net and tied the score 2-2 at the 105:18 mark.
PK SHOOTOUT
Both teams mirrored one another missing both first attempts, making the second, and hitting their third opportunities. After Oakland missed their fourth attempt, freshman Shane McMillin drilled his attempt to give the Colonials a 3-2 advantage. The Golden Grizzlies netted their fifth attempt as RMUs was stopped by goalkeeper Sly Jr, 3-3. Both programs made their sixth attempt, while missing their seventh opportunity. Each team found the back of the net on their eighth attempt before Oakland drilled their ninth to take a 6-5 lead. RMU had one last opportunity as Sly Jr. was able to knock away
Jacob Haskins' shot to secure the win.
SCORING PLAYS
8:28 - Gilley, Assist: Lawrence
68:31 - Baylon, Assist: Schrum
95:20 - Retzer, Assist: Baylon
105:18 - Shearer
PK SHOOTOUT
QUOTABLE
"I'm as proud of this group as I have ever been in 22 years of college coaching," RMU head coach
Jason O'Keefe said. There was no quit in them even with all the adversity. Knockout soccer can be a cruel and exhilarating thing. Unfortunately, we were on the cruel side today. The finality is something that will be difficult to process for some time," O'Keefe continued.
"The team should be pleased with the continued progress this year and hungry to take another step next year beginning in January."
QUICK HITS
RMU played a man down for over 94 minutes, while forcing overtime and a penalty shootout … Gilley tallied his seventh goal of the year … Lawrence recorded his second assist of the season … Shearer collected his first goal … Petrelli collected a career-high and season best 12 saves … Oakland finished with an 27-10 shot advantage, while holding a 14-6 edge in shots on goal … The Golden Grizzlies finished with an 11-7 lead in corner kicks.
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