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COLLEGE WRAP-AROUND: Abraham scores game winner for WVU; RMU women beat Youngstown St

Here is our weekend Wrap-Around of Division I college action in our area, as surprisingly only one game was cancelled due to the rain conditions.

2018 COMPLETE PGH SOCCER COLLEGE SCHEDULE 

Duquesne Women

Zac Weiss filed this game story, as Duquesne rebounded from Thursday’s loss to Pitt, but beating Morehead State

Photo credit: Zachary Weiss

Duquesne overcomes rain; Morehead State

 

WVU Women

West Virginia University women’s soccer team snagged its first road victory of the 2018 season with a 2-1 victory at Clemson on Friday at Riggs Field.

A free kick from junior goalkeeper Rylee Foster sparked the game-winning goal, as she perfectly placed the ball in the box for senior forward Hannah Abraham, who swiftly headed it toward the left post for her first goal of the season.

“We grinded against a great ACC team. Give Clemson a lot of credit – they’re a tough team,” Mountaineer coach Nikki Izzo-Brown said. “Our team was super focused on what they each needed to do in their position to find the win.”

After watching their 1-0 lead disappear on a Tiger goal in the 68th minute, the Mountaineers earned a chance 12 minutes later when CU’s Mackenzie Smith was issued a yellow card just over midfield. Foster’s kick sailed into the box, and the Albert Gallatin product, Abraham, timed her run perfectly, heading the ball in for her team-best seventh career game-winner and first since Aug. 27, 2017.

“Hannah Abraham was able to find the ball and time her run – it was a no-quit mentality,” said Izzo-Brown. “I think we’ve been knocking, knocking, knocking, and the girls knew they needed to be a little bit more brave, a little bit more focused – and, that’s what Hannah brought.”

Friday’s victory gives the Mountaineers (2-2-3) at least one non conference win in an opponent’s home venue each year since 2015 and 17 times in program history.

RMU Men

Robert Morris’ men’s soccer team scored a pair of goals in a 67-second span, but the Colonials ultimately dropped their second consecutive 3-2 decision, this time to Longwood on Saturday

Robert Morris (0-4-1, 0-0-0 NEC) found the back of the net in the ninth and 10th minutes, one minute and seven seconds being the exact timespan between the tallies. That marked the 10th quickest time between goals in program history, and the fastest since Aug. 31, 2014 when Bruce Cullen and Speedy Williams both scored in a 64-second span against Rider.

Longwood (2-2-0, 0-0-0 Big South) put the Colonials in an early deficit, scoring just 47 seconds in after Ander Extaniz buried a rebound. RMU responded eight minutes later as a long cross by Owen Pearce caught the head of Zac Sherman, who redirected it past Jacob Reimers.

The Pearce/Sherman connection struck again 67 seconds later, only with the roles reversed. Sherman played a ball into the middle for Pearce, who angled it inside the right post for the first goal of his career.

The Colonials nearly made it 3-1 in the 38th minute, but Christian Coridon’s shot was cleared off the line by a Lancers defender.

Longwood found an equalizer in the 52nd minute as Denzel Speed found Jeremy Jaquier inside the 18. The hosts then took the lead in the 66th minute, converting on a corner kick as Mikel Abando headed home Markus Gronli’s cross.

Sherman and Riccardo Rota each tallied a pair of shot attempts.

Making his 38th career start between the posts, Winter Fondi made six saves in the loss. Fondi moved up to fourth all-time among RMU goalkeepers in Starting XI appearances.

Robert Morris is back on the road Wednesday, Sept. 12 at 7:00 p.m. when it travels nearly four hours east to Bucknell.

RMU Women

Women’s soccer team splitting a pair of non-conference matches this weekend.

On Friday, in its return home from a four-game road swing, the Colonials fell to Howard, 3-1.

RMU found the equalizer in the 39th minute.

After winning a corner kick, Anni Varjonen swung a cross in towards the far right post, connecting with the head of Keli Rosensteel. It was the first career goal for the sophomore midfielder, who came on as a substitute just 10 minutes earlier.

The Bison regained the lead in the 50th minute as Jordan Taylor let loose a knuckler from long range, tucking it just inside the crossbar. Taylor added a second in the 53rd minute to make it 3-1.

The Colonials had their fair share of opportunities to pull a goal back – including a pair of attempts by Jane Schleicher that were saved – but to no avail.

Bruckner made 12 saves in the defeat. Julia Schmid replaced her for a 15-minute stretch, stopping a pair of shot attempts.

On Sunday, the Colonials used two first-half goals to get back in the win column as the Colonials defeated Youngstown State, 2-0, this afternoon from Farmers National Bank Field.

Robert Morris (2-6-0, 0-0-0 NEC) was again led by Schleicher, who registered her third brace of the season to up her goal total to seven. Julia Schmid earned the start between the posts and made seven saves, posting the first clean sheet of her career.

Schmid came to play early, making an early save on Shani Jefferson in the sixth minute. She then made a pair of stops on Katie Hackos to help withstand the Youngstown State (1-5-2, 0-0-0 Horizon League) pressure, leading to the pendulum swinging the Colonials’ way in the form of a Schleicher goal at the 35th minute.

RMU continued to press forward for a second goal, first being whistled for offsides in the 41st minute. However, 52 seconds later, Schleicher broke through the back line and slotted home a rebound to double the visitors’ lead.

The Colonials nearly had a third goal in the 54th minute as Schleicher and Bailey Farabaugh forced saves out of Zeeyana Jivraj. Four minutes later, Schleicher again was in on goal but Jivraj stepped up to make a stop.

Schmid preserved her shutout in the final minute, stopping attempts from Luca Fahmer and Lauren Dolak.

Schleicher continues her climb up the RMU record books, now ranking fourth in career points (40) and tied for third in career goals (18). The senior also is second in both categories by a per-game basis, averaging 0.45 goals and 1.00 points per contest.

Robert Morris hosts Akron on Friday, Sept. 14 at 3:00 p.m. for its next game.

PITT-KANSAS: A WASHOUT

Due to inclement weather in the Pittsburgh area, the University of Pittsburgh women’s soccer team’s contest against the Kansas Jayhawks has been cancelled.

The Panthers and No. 16 Kansas were set to meet at 1 p.m. Sunday. The cancellation concludes nonconference action for the Panthers.

Pitt will turn its attention to a challenging league schedule as ACC play gets underway Saturday at 7 p.m. when the Panthers host No. 24 Louisville.

THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE 

Tues 09/11/18 07:00:00 PM Pitt men VCU Richmond, VA
Wed 09/12/18 07:00:00 PM RMU M Bucknell Lewisburg, PA
Wed 09/12/18 07:00:00 PM Duq M St. Francis (PA) Rooney Field (Duq)
 
Fri 09/14/18 07:00:00 PM Duq W St. Francis (PA) Rooney Field (Duq)
Fri 09/14/18 07:00:00 PM Pitt men NC State Ambrose Urbanic Field (Pitt)
Sat 09/15/18 TBA RMU M La Salle North Athletic Complex, Moon Twp, PA
Sat 09/15/18 07:00:00 PM Pitt W Louisville Louisville, KY
Sat 09/15/18 07:00:00 PM RIVERHOUNDS Louisville Highmark Stadium
 
Sun 09/16/18 07:00:00 PM Duq M Temple Rooney Field (Duq)
Sun 09/16/18 01:00:00 PM RMU W Yale New Haven, CT

John Krysinsky has covered soccer and other sports for many years for various publications and media outlets. He is also author of 'Miracle on the Mon' -- a book about the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, which chronicles the club, particularly the early years of Highmark Stadium with the narrative leading up to and centered around a remarkable match that helped provide a spark for the franchise. John has covered sports for Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, DK Pittsburgh Sports, Pittsburgh Sports Report, has served as color commentator on Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC broadcasts, and worked with OPTA Stats and broadcast teams for US Open Cup and International Champions Cup matches held in the US. Krysinsky also served as the Head Men’s Soccer Coach at his alma mater, Point Park University, where he led the Pioneers to the first-ever winning seasons and playoff berths (1996-98); head coach of North Catholic boys (2007-08), associate head coach of Shady Side Academy boys (2009-2014).

Glory on the Grass

Riverhounds MF Kenardo Forbes

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