ROCHESTER, Mich. – The RMU men's soccer team is set to compete for its first Horizon League Championship as they face the No. 1-seeded Oakland Golden Grizzlies on Saturday, November 16, at 1:00 PM. The match will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
SEMIFINAL RECAP
RMU (8-6-3, 4-3-2 #HLMSOC) advanced to the final after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over No. 3 Milwaukee in the semifinals. Graduate forward
Chase Gilley netted the decisive goal in the 65th minute, assisted by freshman
Lucas Barsoee. The Colonials led in shots (15-5) and recorded five shots on target compared to Milwaukee's three. Sophomore goalkeeper
Josh Lane earned his eighth win and fifth shutout of the season, making three crucial saves to preserve the lead.
MILESTONE WATCH
Gilley's seventh goal of the season was also his fourth game-winner, the most in the Horizon League this year. Over his 72-game collegiate career, the Denver, N.C. native has accumulated 19 goals, 11 assists, and 49 points. He now sits just one point shy of reaching 50 career points.
PLAYOFF HISTORY
The semifinal win marked RMU's first postseason victory since joining the Horizon League in 2020. The Colonials are aiming for their first Horizon League title since winning the Northeast Conference crown in 2005.
ALL-TIME VS. OAKLAND
RMU is seeking its first-ever win over Oakland. Earlier this season, the Colonials held a 2-1 lead in Rochester, Mich., with goals from
John Paul Mbuthia and
Kosi Udeh before falling 3-2. This marks the second postseason meeting between the programs. In 2022, the teams tied 2-2, with Gilley scoring for RMU. Oakland advanced after winning 6-5 in penalty kicks.
SCOUTING OAKLAND
Oakland (10-6-2, 6-1-2 #HLMSOC) reached the final with a 2-0 win over No. 4 Green Bay. Malik Sylvester and Andrew Darakjian scored in the victory. Darakjian leads the team in points (3g, 5a) this season. Goalkeeper Alex Flowers has recorded eight wins, five clean sheets, and 65 saves.
UP NEXT
The winner of Saturday's match secures an automatic berth in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. The selection show will air live on
NCAA.com on Monday, November 18, at 1:00 PM. RMU is seeking its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2005.
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