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Robert Morris women beat St. Francis 2-0

Robert women’s soccer team snapped a three-game slide with an impressive 2-0 victory over Keystone State rival Saint Francis U this afternoon in Northeast Conference (NEC) action from a chilly North Athletic Complex.

Robert Morris (4-11-0, 2-3-0 NEC) picked up its first win over Saint Francis U (5-7-3, 3-1-1 NEC) since 2015, controlling the contest from start to finish. The Colonials owned an 11-8 edge in shot attempts – 5-1 in the final 45 minutes – and an 8-3 difference on shots on goal.

RMU nearly opened the scoring in the seventh minute, but was denied by the woodwork. Kaele Kloc played a through ball into the box for Jane Schleicher, who then ripped a left-footed shot past Red Flash goalkeeper Julia Hernan. However, there was just a smidge too much bend in the strike, as it glanced off the far right post and settled in front of the goal line.

Kloc almost found the netting in the 24th minute, corralling an errant pass and carrying into the 18 before firing a shot right at Hernan.

John Kowalski made a pair of substitutions with 15 minutes remaining in the half, bringing on freshmen Chelsea Kingston and Courtney Hurey. Less than 40 seconds after Hurey entered the game, she made an impact, setting up Kingston with a pass down the right flank. Kingston made a clean turn to gain space in the box, then rifled an attempt off the fingertips of Hernan and into the back of the net for her first career goal.

The hosts made it 2-0 four minutes later, thanks again to an assist by Hurey. Kloc forced a turnover in their defensive half and quickly played it ahead to the freshman, who then used one touch before passing it to Schleicher near the 18. The senior midfielder beat her defender one-on-one before putting it on her left foot, then slotted it home past Hernan for her NEC-leading 10th goal of the season.

The Colonials defense then took over, limiting all of SFU’s attacking opportunities. The visitors managed a single shot attempt in the second half – a save by Sydney Bruckner on Alyssa McGhee – and a corner kick in the 73rd minute.

Nicolette Casarcia nearly made it 3-0 in the 67th minute as her try from distance was curling towards the upper 90, but Hernan leaped up to make a highlight save.

 

With her goal, Schleicher is now the fifth player in program history to register double-digit goals in a season, joining Kathleen Caggiano (2007), Ayana Davis (2011), Katie Dugan (2001, 2002), and Kelly Haggard (1995). The senior is now tied for fourth in single-season goals – four off tying the record of 14 (Dugan, 2002) – and moved into eighth in single-season points with 20, just ahead of her 2017 performance of 19.

In terms of career positioning, Schleicher sits third in goals (21) and fourth in points (46) at RMU. By per-game averages, those rankings rise to second with 0.45 goals and 0.95 points per contest.

Bruckner made three saves to complete her second clean sheet of the season. The sophomore now has five shutouts in her career, moving into a tie for fifth all-time with Makenzie Shearson (2016).

Robert Morris begins its last road trip of the regular season on Friday, Oct. 19 at 3:00 p.m. when it plays Bryant.

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