Robert Morris falls in final match

Nick Milliron, Staff Reporter

In their final regular season game, the Robert Morris University men’s soccer team (7-9-2; NEC 2-4-1) fell short to the Saint Francis University Red Flash (12-5-1; NEC 6-1) 4-0 at the North Athletic Complex on Sunday. The match concluded the 2014 season.

“It’s really hard because I wanted to go out with a bang, and we didn’t,” said senior captain Speedy Williams.

The Colonials were shut down all game long, with the Red Flash out-shooting them 13-3 in the first half. RMU’s lackluster play may have attributed to the fact that they were already unable to make the playoffs, sitting right outside at fifth place.

“A fear that you always have is having nothing to play for,” said RMU coach Bill enniston. “If they won they hosted, and that’s the way the game went.”

The Red Flash increased their winning streak to five games with the win. It certainly was a rough time for the Robert Morris seniors.

“I wanted to leave on a winning note, but it’s hard when you can’t go anywhere in the season,” said senior Prince Samuels. “I might want to play hard because it’s my last day, but the rest of the guys might not feel the same way.”

SFU struck first with a point blank shot from star player Ryan Byers assisted by Conner Rezende in the 22nd minute. It was Byers’ seventh goal of the season. To try and add some strength, Denniston subbed in defenseman Tyler Graziani after the goal..

Just 14 minutes later, the Red Flash grabbed their second goal from Mitch Kavlick, assisted by some quick 1-2 passing in the box from Brendan McGhee and Pablo Medina. It was his first net of the season.

St. Francis finished the game up with two late goals from Calvin Rezende off a counter attack and Andres Vegas off a header via a cross from the endline.

Despite the loss, the Robert Morris seniors tried to remain optimistic after the game.

“I’m focusing on going professional, but the future is wide open,” said Samuels. “Tt’s wherever God takes me.”

The Colonials never thought they would finish the season under .500. Only further motivation for next year.

“I said to Michael, their coach, I hope we’re playing at the end of the year to see who hosts,” Denniston said. “It certainly didn’t turn out that way so it was very disappointing.”