Robert Morris Men’s Soccer season ends in 2-1 Horizon League quarterfinal loss to Cleveland State

Horizon League Men’s Soccer Quarterfinal 

FINAL: Cleveland State 2, Robert Morris 1

Just days after orchestrating a dramatic late-season surge to host a home playoff match, Robert Morris Men’s Soccer saw its 2026 campaign come to a tough end on Sunday afternoon.

Despite an early second-half equalizer from star forward Anelson Azard, the Colonials fell 2-1 to sixth-seeded Cleveland State in the Horizon League quarterfinals at the AHN Montour Soccer Complex. RMU finishes the season with a hard-fought 7-5-6 overall record.

Reflecting on the fierce competitiveness of a conference where margins are razor-thin, head coach Jonathan Potter pointed straight to the tactical challenge posed by the Vikings right from the opening whistle.

“Cleveland State is a great team,” Potter said following the match.

“Our league is so competitive. There’s so much parity. They’re a tough opponent that moved the ball so well. We punched back in the second half, but they had a lot going on with the ball that caused us a lot of problems.”

How It Happened

Cleveland State came out with sharp possession and capitalized early. In the 10th minute, Bora Eldem carved down the right wing and floated a cross into the box, finding Domenic Ruggiero for a header at the back post to stake the Vikings to a 1-0 lead.

It took the Colonials past the 20-minute mark and a series of tactical substitutions to settle into their rhythm and wrestle back momentum. RMU began generating dangerous set-piece opportunities as the first half wound down.

Anelson Azard nearly leveled the match off a corner kick—seeing one bid blocked and another sail just wide—before midfielder Giovanni Dennis agonizingly struck the crossbar in the final minute of the half. The Vikings carried their 1-0 advantage into the locker room.

RMU carried its late first-half pressure straight out of the break, finding the equalizer in the 51st minute. Following a corner from Joaquin Fazal, captain Miguel Dominguez flicked a header across the area where Azard was perfectly positioned to nod it home, tying the match 1-1 and notching his league-leading ninth goal of the season.

The match turned into a frantic, end-to-end battle. Seven minutes after the equalizer, Cleveland State nearly reclaimed the lead when a single sequence saw the Vikings strike the crossbar twice, but the Colonial defense scrambled to keep it level.

The deadlock finally broke in the 80th minute. Eldem once again unlocked the flank, serving up a cross that Ruggiero finished off for his second goal of the afternoon, putting Cleveland State ahead 2-1.

RMU threw numbers forward in a desperate search for a late equalizer, but the Viking defense held firm to punch their ticket to the Horizon League semifinals.

Inside the Box Score & Fond Farewells

• The Numbers: Cleveland State held a slim 12-10 advantage in shots (3-3 on target), while both sides finished even with six corner kicks.

• Ironmen: Riley Cotton and Miguel Dominguez played all 90 minutes for the Colonials, while senior goalkeeper Josh Lane recorded one save in his final collegiate appearance.

• Azard’s Elite Season: Azard finishes the year with nine goals in 11 appearances, leading the Horizon League with an impressive 0.82 goals-per-game average.

While the immediate result stings, Potter took time to highlight the legacy left behind by a foundational senior class—including record-setting goalkeeper Josh Lane, Tayshaun Reid, and Storm Johansen—who helped shape the modern era of the program.

“They’re special guys,” Potter said of his departing seniors. “I think about all the battles they’ve had to fight and what they’ve had to overcome over their time, and I think about the men they are today from when they entered. Josh leaves here with some goalkeeping records while Tayshaun and Storm played a big part in our season. They’re all three great young men and I know they’ll be successful in the future.”

John Krysinsky

John Krysinsky has covered soccer and other sports for many years for various publications and media outlets. He is also author of 'Miracle on the Mon' -- a book about the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, which chronicles the club, particularly the early years of Highmark Stadium with the narrative leading up to and centered around a remarkable match that helped provide a spark for the franchise. John has covered sports for Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, DK Pittsburgh Sports, Pittsburgh Sports Report, has served as color commentator on Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC broadcasts, and worked with OPTA Stats and broadcast teams for US Open Cup and International Champions Cup matches held in the US. Krysinsky also served as the Head Men’s Soccer Coach at his alma mater, Point Park University, where he led the Pioneers to the first-ever winning seasons and playoff berths (1996-98); head coach of North Catholic boys (2007-08), associate head coach of Shady Side Academy boys (2009-2014).