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Official Site of Robert Morris University Club Sports

Official Site of Robert Morris University Club Sports

Men's Club Soccer Tops IUP 1-0

Colonials Open Season 2-0

By: Lance Axton
mens club soccer v pitt fall 22

Men's Soccer | 10/17/2022 2:48:00 PM

Moon, PA – The Club Soccer team opened their season with a determined win over Duquesne 2-1, and they were looking to continue their campaign at home against IUP. Being the first game of a double-header, they were looking to start the day off right. Dew covered the field, and there was not a cloud in sight. The players' morale was just as hot as the temperature was going to be on this mid-September weekend. 

Early-game ball control heavily favored RMU, yet there was a constant barrage of quick IUP counterattacks. 15 minutes in, and both teams had reasonable chances to score, with shots on goal being three to two in favor of RMU. After this, though, ball control was heavily in favor of IUP. RMU struggled to get any offense going after the 15-minute mark. The ball was constantly in RMU's side of midfield, and this stayed the same until the 29-minute mark. RMU had now seemed to find their rhythm, breaking the defense of IUP and getting balls past the neutral zone. However, they struggled to put a ball on net, just as the IUP team did. RMU went approximately 17 minutes without getting a shot on net, finally getting a soft header on net after a free kick. Then the fun started. IUP rocketed a curved shot on net, but goaltender Connor Dalton made an amazing stop. Followed by yet another free kick for RMU, #11 Miller Mason fired an absolute missile of a shot that just went a bit too high. Both teams battled up to the 45th minute. Right before halftime, Dalton sent it in to the box to #10 Colin Gorini and a late first-half header gave RMU the 1-0 lead. At halftime, the shots on goal were five to four in favor of RMU.

The second half had started at high noon, and RMU was looking to protect their lead. However, they seemed a bit too relaxed as IUP started hot as they were able to fire three shots on net in the first 15 minutes, although all of them were thwarted by RMU goaltender (?). Right around the 65th minute, the RMU attack was deep in the IUP end, and multiple shots came in, including one shot ringing off the pipe, but none converted for RMU. After this though, the RMU offense stayed hot like embers of a fire that refused to go out, and IUP's counterattack froze over, with little to no opportunities until the 34-minute mark, where a bullet of a shot was fired, but firmly caught by the RMU goalkeeper. Nearing the last ten minutes of the game, IUP recognized that it had to get something done, and fast. Their offense was starting to work things out and was starting to get the ball deeper in RMU territory. However, RMU defense kept holding strong and was rolling to a goal, when the IUP goalkeeper came out of his box to stop a goal opportunity but came out of the battle with a yellow card. Not long after, the referee signaled that the game had concluded, leading to RMU's slow, yet satisfying, victory. 
RMU outshot IUP on net 11 to 8, and improved to 2-0 on the season. Play continued later that day against Pittsburgh at 3 P.M. 
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Players Mentioned

Colin Gorini

#10 Colin Gorini

FWD
5' 9"
Junior
Connor Dalton

#31 Connor Dalton

GK
Senior

Players Mentioned

Colin Gorini

#10 Colin Gorini

5' 9"
Junior
FWD
Connor Dalton

#31 Connor Dalton

Senior
GK

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Scores