Robert Morris beat IUPUI 5-0 to earn Horizon League playoff berth

Photo courtesy Robert Morris University athletics

From Robert Morris University report 

For the second-straight season, the Robert Morris University men’s soccer team clinched a spot in the Horizon League Tournament after capturing a 5-0 shutout victory over IUPUI on Senior Day on Wednesday at the North Athletic Complex.

With the win, the Colonials end the regular season with a 6-7-2 overall record and a 4-3-2 mark in conference play. The six wins is tied for the most since the 2018 campaign.

“Great team effort today,” RMU head coach Jason O’Keefe said after Wednesday’s match.

“Every player was focused on the job at hand and really left it all out there. Was so pleased to not only celebrate Ethan and Jon but also extend their careers for another game.”

From the opening kick, the Colonials wasted no time going on the offensive, recording three shots and two corner kicks in the opening 20 minutes. IUPUI goalkeeper Lucas Morefield collected two saves to keep it scoreless early for the Jaguars. Robert Morris broke the scoring doubt in the 38th minute when Shane McMillian put a header to the right side of the net, 1-0. Just 27 seconds before the half, the Colonials stretched their lead when Evan Lamarca found the back of the net, to give RMU a 2-0 lead heading into intermission.

In the second half, it was no different as the Colonials continued to dominate on the offensive, scoring three goals in the half. After a Jaguar foul occurred in the box, Chase Gilley executed the penalty kick to extend the RMU lead, 3-0. Five minutes later the Colonials found the back of the net again from Victor Koah, 4-0. McMillian capped off the scoring for Robert Morris when he registered his second goal of the contest at the 78:32 mark. The Colonials provided a stout 90 minutes on defense, allowing only three total shots and zero shots on goal for IUPUI.

For the second time this season, RMU has recorded five goals, both of them being shutout victories. McMillian began the scoring explosion when he got away from his defender and put the corner kick from Connor Hain to the right side of the net. Before the half, Owen Jowett corralled a pass inside the box and set up Lamarca, who found the back of the net to extend the Colonial lead. After Gilley executed his penalty kick, Bryan Akongo dribbled down the left side of the field, getting into the box and putting a pass to the far-right post that found the left foot of Koah, 4-0 RMU. McMillian carded his second goal of the afternoon after Darren Gray put a cross to the center of the box and McMillian found the top left corner of the net.

CSN Postgame: Jason O’Keefe talks to CSN after @RMUMSoccer playoff clinching 5-0 win over IUPUI ⬇️https://t.co/lGALEA0hfj

— Colonial Sports Network (@RMU_CSN) November 2, 2022

SCORING PLAYS
37:54: McMillan, Assist: Hain
44:33: Lamarca, Assist: Jowett
59:01: Gilley (Penalty Kick)
63:56: Koah, Assist: Akongo
78:32: McMillian, Assist: Gray

2022 HORIZON LEAGUE MEN’S SOCCER BRACKET

As the regular season came to a close this afternoon, Cleveland State earned the regular season title and the No. 1 seed in the Horizon League Tournament. The Vikings and Wright State, who clinched the No. 2 seed, will receive byes in the first round. IUPUI received the No 3 seed, while Oakland is the No. 4, both of which will host the quarterfinal games this Sunday.

Robert Morris was tabbed the No. 5 seed and will travel to Oakland, while No. 6 seed Detroit Mercy will travel to face IUPUI.

Championship Central | Championship Bracket