Moon Township, Pa. – With some aggressive play from the opening kickoff, the Robert Morris University men's soccer team suffered a 2-1 defeat to Duquesne on Wednesday afternoon at the North Athletic Complex.

With the loss, the Colonials fall to 0-2-0 this season, while the Dukes improve to 3-0-0 overall. Duquesne has now won the last four meetings in the series.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
In the first half, the Dukes wasted no time getting on the board. Jesper Moksnes took a throw-in from Nate Dragisich and found Logan Muck, who put a header to the right side of the net at the 3:03-mark to give Duquesne an early 1-0 lead. The Colonials responded in the 14th minute when junior Logan Gilley took a pass from classmate Preston Rushmore and put a shot off the right post, to knot the score a 1-1.

The scrappy play continued throughout the first half as three yellow cards were distributed before junior Darren Gray saw his header sail right of the post in the 44th minute, to keep it a 1-1 game heading into the half. Robert Morris held an 8-2 shot advantage in the opening stanza.

Similar to the first half, the Dukes regained the lead just two minutes in when Harper Cook put a cross into the box that saw Cameron Territo put a header into the right side of the net, to give them a 2-1 lead. Duquesne made it difficult on the Colonials in the second half as their efficient defense held Robert Morris to just one shot.

The Colonials lone shot came in the 85th minute when sophomore Lucas Shearer saw his shot sail over the top of the crossbar.

SCORING PLAYS
4' – Muck, Assists: Moksnes & Dragisich
14' – L. Gilley, Assist: Rushmore
47' – Territo, Assist: Cook
 
QUICK HITS
L. Gilley scored his first goal with the Colonials … Rushmore tallied his first assist of the season … Petrelli collected two saves … Robert Morris finished with a 9-5 shot advantage, while Duquesne held a 3-2 edge in shots on goal … Colonials finished with a 9-1 lead in corner kicks … A combined 23 fouls were called during the match.

QUOTABLES
"Hats off to Duquesne today. They are an experience team that finds way to win," head coach Jason O'Keefe said. "We will learn a great deal from the game today and hopefully begin to mature and find our own ways to win college soccer games. We will recover and get focused on Xavier."
 
NEXT
Robert Morris returns to action on Sunday, September 4, when it travels to Xavier for its last non-conference match of the season, beginning at 7 p.m.
 
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