MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – The RMU men's soccer team put on an offensive clinic, pouring in four goals to defeat Detroit Mercy, 4-0, in their conference opener. The Colonials are now 3-1-2 overall and 1-0 in Horizon League play. 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
RMU was on the hunt early, recording three shots in the first eight minutes before finally breaking through in the 12th minute.
 
Freshman Matthew Eckersall caused a turnover in the midfield and found Royie Rahamim. Rahamim played a surgical pass through two defenders to a streaking Anass Hadran, who dribbled by the keeper and slotted it home for a 1-0 lead.
 
The Titans then pushed to tie the game, but goalkeeper Josh Lane stood tall, making four saves to keep the clean sheet.
 
In the final minute of the first half, defender Fabian Overkamp was close to scoring off a cross as his header was on net, but a UDM player cleared it off on the line.
 
Entering the second half, it didn't take long for RMU to extend their lead. Overkamp finally got his goal as Jaxson Lee put in a long throw in, into the box where Overkamp headed it in to make it a 2-0 game.
 
Again, in the 73rd minute, Lee threw the ball in from distance where Overkamp connected. His headed ball landed perfectly for Rahamim, who tapped it in past the keeper for a 3-0 lead.
 
RMU wasn't finished as they added another in the 81st minute. Off a cross, Kosi Udeh's shot was saved, but on the rebound, Overkamp was there once again, shooting in his second goal of the game, securing RMU's 4-0 victory.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Both teams recorded 19 shots while the Colonials paced for nine shots on goal compared to the Titans' six. Each side earned three corner kicks. In net, Lane split his shutout with Kieran Gorgenyi. Lane made five total saves in the victory while Gorgenyi, in his season debut, made one stop.  
 
COLONIAL FIRSTS
Freshmen Matthew Eckersall and Riley Cotton made their first collegiate starts in today's match. Eckersall played a season-high 66 minutes and recorded an assist on the opening goal. Cotton started in the midfield, playing a season-high 63 minutes. RMU's Elijah Caparello-Wanless, Noah Rastrick and Storm Johansen each made their first appearances this season. Rastrick made his collegiate debut, playing for seven minutes on the pitch.
 
OVERKAMP'S CAREER DAY
Captain Fabian Overkamp put together one of his best offensive performances in his career against Detroit Mercy, scoring two goals and producing his first career assist. This was his first career two-goal game. Overkamp has been a consistent presence on RMU's backline for three seasons, appearing in 40 games with 37 starts.
 
LEE'S LONG THROW
Sophomore defender Jaxson Lee was an X factor today for the Colonials, as two goals were scored off his long throw-ins. After scoring his first career goal last game at Niagara, he earned his first career start against the Titans, playing a season-high 83 minutes, and recorded two assists.
 
RAHAMIM KEEPS ROLLING
Freshman Royie Rahamim scored once again for the Colonials. The Perth, Western Australia native leads RMU in goals so far with four, which ranks second in the Horizon League conference. Over his last three games, Rahamim has produced three goals and one assist.
 
ANOTHER SHUTOUT
The Colonials defense backed by Lane earned their fourth clean sheet of the season. RMU has only allowed six goals in six games, with their 1.00 goals against average ranking fourth in the Horizon League.  
 
HARD TO BEAT AT HOME
Dating back to last season, RMU remains undefeated at home in conference play, owning a 4-0-2 record at the North Athletic Complex. Across three seasons under Head Coach Jonathan Potter, the Colonials are 6-2-2 in Horizon League action on their home field.  
 
QUOTABLE
"We are proud of the team for this win at home," said Potter. "Our home support and atmosphere have been tremendous. We'll work to keep improving and be ready for our next Horizon League game next weekend."  
 
UP NEXT
RMU will continue conference play at home next weekend, hosting Northern Kentucky. The match is scheduled for Saturday, September 20 at 4:00 PM.
 
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