Robert Morris women take lesson from first half stumble in season opening loss to Navy

RMU women’s soccer team dropped its 2025 season opener to Navy on Thursday, dropping a 3-0 result against a tough opponent right out of the gate.

Navy scored all three goals in the first half, including a pair of goals coming in the 15th and 16th minutes that provided a wake-up call and hard lesson for the Colonials, who are coming off a winning season a year ago and bring back a strong returning core.

“It was a good test for us early in the season,” Michelle Rick, RMU’s Head Coach, told Pittsburgh Soccer Now, shortly after the match.

“That’s what we want. We want to learn the lessons early, so that we’re ready when it comes to conference play.”

The early part of the match proved to be a feeling out process for both sides.

The Colonials registered the first shot of the game in the fourth minute, but it was Navy who started to jump on the front foot, seizing the match in the opening 20 minutes by extending possessions and bringing consistent pressure into the final third.

While RMU weathered the early portion of the storm, Navy’s Marlee Heaven took advantage of getting to a loose ball in the box to put the Midshipmen on the board in the 15th minute with her first goal of the season.

Still rattled, RMU were caught on their heels a minute later, with Navy’s Chiara Cosenza doubling the lead.

“I thought we created chances in those first 10, 15 minutes, but that first goal went in, and we reacted,” Rick explained.

Giving up two goals in a short period of time provided Rick and her staff with an opportunity to emphasize a key lesson for this year’s group, in how they can better respond to adverse moments.

“That’s what we coach.  How do we respond to that.  That’s going to dictate how our season goals.  How do we respond to the good.  How do we respond to the bad.  That was the message.  The response makes all the difference.  There’s 75 minutes left.”

RMU had a few opportunities to respond, including a shot from sophomore Madison Hurst that went high and an offsides call on a promising run by freshman Alayna Williams. However, Navy extended its lead in the 42nd minute when Ali Barrow scored, sending the Midshipmen into halftime with a 3-0 advantage.

The Colonials came out in the second half with renewed energy.

“We came out and had a better second half,” Rick said.

Senior captain Taylor Day recorded two shots on goal within the first 15 minutes of the half, creating a shift in momentum for the home side.

“They sat really high in the midfield and we were playing tiny passes through the midfield, and that’s not what this game called for,” Rick added.

“It took us a little too long to learn that lesson. We came out in the second half and did a little better, but I think there’s areas where we need to be a little bit clearer about how and when we can play which way.”

Despite the Colonials’ efforts, neither team managed to register a shot on goal over the final 30 minutes of the match, and Navy held on to its 3-0 lead to secure the win.

Even with a strong returning core, this was the first team that Rick, in her second season at the helm, fielded a squad with numerous new players and recruits that she brought to the program.

Three of the class of 10 freshman started the match for the Colonials.  Freshmen Bailey Campbell, Ivy Chaskelson, and Sydney Chontos all earned a start in their first career games. Coming off the bench, freshmen Francesca Villa, Alayna Williams, Eily Duffy, Akeelah Mirza, and Isabella Fusco all saw their first collegiate minutes on the pitch.

“It’s going to take a little bit of time for them to get comfortable in big game environment.  The physicality and speed of play.  Those are the two big things,” Rick explained.

“The experience they got from this first game, the faster that they can learn from that, the more they can thrive into the season. We wanted to get as many of them into the game for that reason.”

FULL POST MATCH INTERVIEW WITH MICHELLE RICK

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

Navy finished the match with 11 total shots, with six on target, while RMU recorded seven shots and three on target. The Midshipmen earned three corner kicks to RMU’s two. Defenders Emerson Johngarlo, Shauna Gamble, Ivy Chaskelson, and midfielder Bailey Campbell all played the entire 90 minutes of the contest.

UP NEXT

The Colonials will remain at home next week to host the University of Southern Indiana on Thursday, August 21 at 4:00 PM.