It was an absolutely beautiful day for soccer at the North Athletic Complex on Friday afternoon.  Underneath crystal clear skies the Robert Morris University Colonials women’s soccer team (2-6) squared off against the Akron Zips (2-4-1).  It would be the Zips who would emerge victorious on the day with a 3-1 victory.

Why It Happened

The first half of the contest was a tight-knit affair as both teams battled throughout the half.  The Zips were the first to get on the board though as Akron’s Carly Pcholinsky pounced on a loose ball in front of the net.  Colonial fans were up in arms looking for the goal to be called off due to interference with the goalkeeper. Luckily for the Colonial faithful, it would not take long for the home team to respond back as just 26 seconds after Pcholinsky’s goal Jane Schleicher continued her early season success by adding her eighth goal of the young season.  However, the half would not go out quietly as late in the half the Zips had a goal called off after a collision with the keeper resulted in the disallowed goal.

The second half would see much of the same action and once again it would be Akron to get onto the board first. After a cross from a set piece led to another goal from Pcholinsky to make the score 2-1.  The Zips would then increase their lead to 3-1 at the 77:08 mark after Lauren Lambert capitalized on a miss-played ball by the Colonial defense.

What it Means

This loss means that the Colonials will now fall to 2-7 with just one more non-conference game left to play.  While Schleicher continued her offensive prowess, one could imagine that the other players need to elevate their play in the attacking third as it is unlikely that Schleicher will sustain her red-hot start to the season.

Who Starred

Once again, Schleicher started for the Colonials.  The attacker was able to grab her eighth goal of the season.  This goal came at an important moment in the game, as just seconds prior to Schleicher’s tally, RMU had fallen behind 1-0 after Arkon’s Pcholinsky was the first to capitalize on a loose ball in front of the Colonials net.  

Who Stumbled

The Colonials defense stumbled on the day as the Zips capitalized on multiple mistakes by the RMU defense.  Akron’s first goal came as a result of a misplay by goalkeeper Julia Schmid. As the ball squirmed away from the goalkeeper, the Colonial defense failed to clear the ball out of the danger zone.  The defensive woes continued on the Zips third and final goal as another misplay by the goalkeeper, this time Sydney Bruckner, lead to another loose ball which once again was not cleared by RMU and resulted in another goal for the Zips.

Who is next

Up next for the Colonials, is the Yale Bulldogs (4-2-1).  RMU will take on the Bulldogs in New Haven, Connecticut on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.