Not RMU’s First NCAA Rodeo: Robert Morris return to NCAA men’s soccer tournament for fourth time, first since 2005

Photo credit Clayton Hultquist

It felt like an unprecedented moment this past weekend to see Robert Morris win the Horizon League Men’s Soccer Championship, in the process also earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament field of 48 teams announced on Monday.

Truth is, as this year’s Colonials squad ventures to Michigan for Thursday’s first round match, they carry on a tradition that is a bit more rich than some may realize.

This latest accomplishment for the program, under second year Head Coach Jonathan Potter, as they are in their fifth season competing in the Horizon League, provides another notch on the belt of the program’s history, which includes past NCAA tournament appearances along with numerous former players who went on to play professionally.

For the full list of players who’ve gone on to play in the pros, check out the list compiled by RMU’s Jordan Smith on their website 

From it’s debut in 1989, Robert Morris men’s soccer program found instant credibility with John Kowalski serving as its first head coach. Kowalski previously served as the Head Coach of the Pittsburgh Spirit MISL club which had a short-lived run but for a brief period drew more fans to the Civic Arena than the NHL’s Penguins.

At the same time he started up the RMU men’s program, Kowalski also served in numerous roles with United States Soccer, including as head coach of the US Men’s National Team (yes — JK served as USMNT interim coach for a few games) and US Men’s Futsol, which finished 2nd to Brazil in the 1992 World Championships.

From Poland to Pittsburgh, coaching legend Kowalski lives out ‘American Dream’

Under Kowalski’s direction, RMU’s men’s program set a very high bar just a few years into its existence, as they had a very impressive run from 1989-96, as men’s soccer become the first squad from the University other than men’s basketball to qualify for the NCAA Tournament in 1993 and 1994.  He would be twice named men’s NEC Coach of the Year.

During his tenure, Robert Morris ranked as high as No. 16 nationally in 1995, won four NEC regular-season championships (1992, 1994, 1995, 1996), and two NEC tournament titles in 1993 and 1994.

In their two tournament appearances under Kowalski, the Colonials were eliminated by Penn State both times (both times by 3-0 scores), but did notch the program’s only NCAA postseason win, beating Lafayette, 1-0, in the first round.   In the win vs Lafayette, played on November 12, at North Athletic Complex, RMU found a second half goal from Marco Patitucci *, assisted by Scottish native John Roach **.

The Colonials returned to the NCAA tournament in 2005, as they captured their last Northeast Conference title under Bill Denniston, who held the coaching reins at RMU from 1997- 2020.  Jacek Przednowek *** was the team’s leading scorer that season, with 14 goals.

That 2005 Robert Morris squad battled West Virginia in a tight contest, but came out on the short end, losing 1-0, as a Reed Cooper goal assisted by Devon McTavish knocked out RMU’s hopes of advancing.

This week, we were reminded at the pro level that this program has produced some quality players who are still making an impact.

Devon ‘Speedy’ Williams, now a veteran midfielder for Colorado Springs Switchbacks, excelled at RMU from 2013-15.

Along with his Robert Morris teammate Neco Brett, Williams charted out his ‘path to the pros’ at Robert Morris, crafting an outstanding career which has led him to call-ups to Jamaican National Team and multiple USL Championship Cup victories with New York Red Bulls II and Louisville City FC.

And guess what?

Williams, who once earned the nickname from Pittsburgh Soccer Now as the ‘Robert Horry of USL’ for always being in the mix playing for championships, is back in the USL Cup Final once again, to be played this Saturday, with Colorado Springs against Rhode Island FC.

Look for more coverage of Robert Morris’ first NCAA Tournament Match vs Michigan to come later Wednesday and Thursday including our match preview and more! 

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*  Patitucci (a Pittsburgh Native and Fox Chapel HS soccer standout) helped lead Robert Morris to Northeast Conference Tournament championships and subsequent bids to the NCAA Tournament in both 1993 and 1994. He was named the 1994 NEC Tournament MVP after scoring a pair of goals, including the eventual game-winner in a 2-0 overtime victory over Mount St. Mary’s in the championship game. A two-time All-NEC selection, Patitucci earned second team honors in 1992 and first team accolades in 1994 after finishing with 11 goals and 29 points. A native of Pittsburgh, Pa., Patitucci finished his career with 22 goals and 56 points. Patitucci was a first-round draft pick in the National Professional Soccer League and was selected to play for the Harrisburg Heat, but chose not to play. He now lives in Arkansas where he works in supply chain management.

** Roach, a Scottish native, has been a veteran of the US scene of some 30 years as player, coach and manager, scored two goals and had six assists for Robert Morris that 1994 season.

*** In three seasons at Robert Morris, Przednowek compiled career totals of 38 goals and 11 assists for 87 points. He ranks third in program history in points per game (1.53) as well as fifth in both goals and points and over his career produced 10 game-winning goals. In each of his three seasons, Przednowek earned All-NEC honors, earning first team accolades in 2005 and 2007 and second team plaudits in 2006. In 2005, Przednowek, a native of Brantford, Ontario, was named the NEC Tournament MVP as the Colonials posted a 3-2 win at Monmouth to earn an NCAA Tournament berth. His best season came as a senior in 2007, when he finished with 15 goals and four assists for 34 points.

NCAA Men’s Soccer Touranment: Brackets are out, Pitt and Robert Morris Make History