AKRON, Oh.– The Robert Morris women’s soccer team (2-4-1) is aiming to rebound after a tough loss to Yale (4-2-0) when they travel to take on the Akron Zips (2-5-0) out of the MAC, in their last game before the beginning of NEC conference play.

Recapping RMU

The Colonials’ season has been marred with inconsistency so far, as they followed up their 0-2-1 start by going 2-2 in their last four games. In three of those four games, RMU was outshot heavily but managed to keep the game close, largely thanks to the work of goalkeeper Sydney Bruckner, who has had a great season to this point. After a big win in extra time against Ohio (5-1-0), the Colonials’ last match came against Yale, where they were once again dominated shots-wise, but kept it close in a 2-1 loss.

Scouting Akron

The Zips have largely disappointed this season by dropping some close games they should’ve won. They outshot both Cleveland State (2-4-2) and Eastern Kentucky (2-6-0) but lost both matches in overtime. Their roster is fairly young, with only one senior on the team. This especially applies to Akron’s goaltending, as they have two freshmen rotating starts for the club. After dropping their last two games, Akron will look to get back on the right track before they also begin conference play, where they will face some big challenges.

Players to Watch

Sydney Bruckner (RMU)

The junior goalkeeper is having herself a good year so far for the Colonials. Though she has been peppered with shots the last few games, she has not given up more than two goals in any game this season. Her most impressive performance came against Ohio, where she made a season-high 11 saves in the shutout victory. While she looks to hopefully face a little less action against Akron, Bruckner will look to keep up a strong performance in net.

Kayla Veloso-Lima (RMU)

A freshman from New Jersey, Veloso-Lima has been one of the more consistent pieces of the Robert Morris offense so far this season. She has started in all seven games for the Colonials and has two goals and two assists coming into this matchup. She scored the late game-winning goal against Ohio and looks to return to form after going pointless against Yale.

Ashley Amato (Akron)

This coming matchup may feel a bit strange for Amato. The Pittsburgh native went to Plum High School; only an hour away from Robert Morris University. She has had a quick start to her season, with three goals on four shots already for the Zips. To put that in perspective, she scored three goals all of last season and has a career-high of five from 2017, which she is on pace to crush. Amato peppered RMU for five shots last season, and the senior will look to do much of the same this time around.

Aislinn Meaney (Akron)

A redshirt sophomore from Ireland for the Zips, Meaney only has one goal to her name this season but has attempted a team-high 16 shots, seven of them going on goal. Sooner or later, one would think that these shots might begin to go in for the forward. Hopefully, for the Colonials, that doesn’t begin to happen against them.

Prediction

This matchup looks to be a lot easier to handle for the Colonials after the tough games against Ohio and Yale previously. Akron is no slouch of a team though, and it should be a pretty even match between the two squads. RMU, however, has a clear experience advantage and is much better off in goal than the Zips are. I predict a Colonials victory against Akron, 3-1, for a much-needed boost before the start of NEC conference play.