Preview: Robert Morris men’s soccer excited about opportunity to play for Horizon League Championship

Immediately following Robert Morris men’s soccer program first-ever postseason win as a member of the Horizon League, beating Milwaukee, 1-0, on Thursday in challenging conditions and in a match that grew more physical and intense with every touch, Chase Gilley couldn’t contain his excitement.

“It means everything,” Gilley exclaimed in his post match interview after he scored the lone goal that was the difference in the match.

“Our first goal was making it to the tournament. Then once we knew we made it to the tournament, we knew we have all the confidence in the world that we’re gonna go out there and show them who we are.”

The Colonials showed Milwaukee that they wouldn’t stop pushing, playing and generating enough quality chances that eventually they would break through in a tightly contested match — to come away with a victory that put them in position to win its first conference title since they won the Northeast Conference in 2005.

At the point of the attack, it was Gilley who kept pushing and pushing for the game’s go-ahead goal on Thursday.

As the semifinal match remained scoreless into the second half, the rain started to taper off.

“I’m gonna set the record straight to say the match kind of opened up,” Gilley explained.

“It got a little bit more drier in the second half so it was kind of easier to get actual clean hit on the ball so (the match) definitely opened up.”

Gilley missed on a golden chance in the 63rd minute, but had a second chance only two minutes later.

GOALLLL⚽️‼️@RMUMSoccer 's Chase Gilley sneaks it in off an assist from Lucas Barsoee, putting the Colonials up 1-0!

📺: https://t.co/NP5VSohvB1#OurHorizon 🌇| #HLMSOC pic.twitter.com/oFbqfpnhLa

— Horizon League (@HorizonLeague) November 14, 2024

“I thought it would be across first, but our boy Lucas (Barsoee) kept dribbling, then I just got into a position where I could find on my left foot and I just turned and then just use my instinct of where I was on the field, and just hit it as hard as I could into the ground cause it’s wet so do you know anything could happen,” Gilley, who leads the Colonials with four game-winning goals this season, explained.

“So, I was hoping for a rebound, but it just squirmed right across the line.”

Gilley and his teammates now get another shot at the top seed and weekend hosts, Oakland.

Three weeks ago, in a showdown for first place,  RMU took a 2-1 lead in the second half against Oakland, only to surrender two late goals for a 3-2 setback that dropped them out of first place.

Robert Morris men’s soccer sees lead, first place slip away in second half at Oakland

“We’ve been thinking about getting that rematch ever since that game, because we felt like it got away from us,” Gilley added.

“We had the first half lead and then we got got away from us — so we’ve been wanting this — and will surely be up for it.”

In his second year at the helm of the program, Head Coach Jonathan Potter has the Colonials one win away from an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

“It’s so exciting for our team,” Potter said after the semifinal win on Thursday.

“We put a lot of work in the offseason, through the preseason. We have older players, who’ve been through a lot in their careers,  so have an opportunity to fight for a championship, I couldn’t be prouder of this team.”

Top seeded Oakland reached the final with a 2-0 win over No. 4 Green Bay on its home turf before RMU’s win on Thursday.

Malik Sylvester and Andrew Darakjian scored in the victory. Darakjian leads the team in points (3g, 5a) this season. Goalkeeper Alex Flowers has recorded eight wins, five clean sheets, and 65 saves.

In looking ahead to Saturday’s showdown with Oakland, Potter doesn’t think it will be difficult for his players to get themselves ready as they’re expecting a dogfight.

“(They’re a) great team. They’re well coached. Very well organized. They’ve been at the stage numerous times,” Potter said.

“As long as we work as hard, we’ll give ourselves a chance in the finals. We’ll have to summon all of our energy and our best performance.”

RMU MSOC HORIZON LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH NOTES

Horizon League Men’s Soccer Championship Match Details

No. 2 Robert Morris vs No. 1 Oakland Golden Grizzlies

Saturday, November 16, at 1:00 PM

Oakland Soccer Complex, Rochester, MI

The match will be broadcast live on ESPN+.

SEMIFINAL RECAP

RMU (8-6-3, 4-3-2 #HLMSOC) advanced to the final after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over No. 3 Milwaukee in the semifinals. Graduate forward Chase Gilley netted the decisive goal in the 65th minute, assisted by freshman Lucas Barsoee. The Colonials led in shots (15-5) and recorded five shots on target compared to Milwaukee’s three. Sophomore goalkeeper Josh Lane earned his eighth win and fifth shutout of the season, making three crucial saves to preserve the lead.

MILESTONE WATCH

Gilley’s seventh goal of the season was also his fourth game-winner, the most in the Horizon League this year. Over his 72-game collegiate career, the Denver, N.C. native has accumulated 19 goals, 11 assists, and 49 points. He now sits just one point shy of reaching 50 career points.

PLAYOFF HISTORY

The semifinal win marked RMU’s first postseason victory since joining the Horizon League in 2020. The Colonials are aiming for their first Horizon League title since winning the Northeast Conference crown in 2005.

ALL-TIME VS. OAKLAND

RMU is seeking its first-ever win over Oakland. Earlier this season, the Colonials held a 2-1 lead in Rochester, Mich., with goals from John Paul Mbuthia and Kosi Udeh before falling 3-2. This marks the second postseason meeting between the programs. In 2022, the teams tied 2-2, with Gilley scoring for RMU. Oakland advanced after winning 6-5 in penalty kicks.

SCOUTING OAKLAND

Oakland (10-6-2, 6-1-2 #HLMSOC) reached the final with a 2-0 win over No. 4 Green Bay. Malik Sylvester and Andrew Darakjian scored in the victory. Darakjian leads the team in points (3g, 5a) this season. Goalkeeper Alex Flowers has recorded eight wins, five clean sheets, and 65 saves.

UP NEXT
The winner of Saturday’s match secures an automatic berth in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. The selection show will air live on NCAA.com on Monday, November 18, at 1:00 PM. RMU is seeking its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2005.

.@rmumsoccer's Chase Gilley and head coach Jonathan Potter discuss overcoming the rainy conditions and advancing to the final round of the #HLMSOC championship after their semifinal win last night.

⚽️#OurHorizon🌇 pic.twitter.com/HbUxxDOhtc

— Horizon League (@HorizonLeague) November 15, 2024