MOON TOWNSHIP– After facing the No. 6 team in the country West Virginia, the Robert Morris men’s soccer team played host to cross-town rival Duquesne for their home opener, coming up short by a score of 2-1

The referee was a game-changer. There were 12 fouls for Duquesne and 11 for RMU. There were also 11 yellow cards and two red cards throughout the match.

RMU started slowly with sloppy passes leading to early turnovers.

Duquesne got on the board fast with a goal by Logan Muck in the third minute, scoring his first of the season.

Logan Gilley scored ten minutes after going off the post and a Duquesne defender to tie it up.

His twin brother Chase had two chances later in the half. His one was a run from midfield but losing control at the last moment, and another was an excellent cross from Bryan Akongo punched away from Dukes’ goalkeeper Domenic Nascimben.

The ball was mainly in the Duquesne half throughout the rest of the half as the Colonials put the pressure on offensively and defensively.

In the final minutes of the half, Darren Gray was left uncovered in the box and sent a beautiful cross, but it was headed wide. That was one of the golden opportunities the Colonials could’ve taken the lead before the break.

In a blink of an eye, Duquesne scores just after the second half begin. Cameron Territo took the lead back less than two minutes into the half.

The Dukes kept their pressure on with a shot by Maxi Hopfer hitting the crossbar a couple of minutes later.

The intensity started to pick up as well. RMU began to make their strides towards goal, lacking throughout the second half, in hopes of tying the game again.

Many corner kicks could not find a Colonial head in the box.

With about fifteen minutes left in the match, the Colonials could not find their same luck from the first half as the possession was essentially in Duquesne’s favor.

With 15 seconds to go, Kelvin Ramirez received his second yellow card and was sent off, one of the numerous whistles blown and cards handed throughout the match.

The Colonials will travel to Cincinnati and face Xavier in another non-conference matchup on Sunday at 7 p.m.