MOON TOWNSHIP – Robert Morris (3-4-3, 2-1 Horizon League) Women’s Soccer was back at the North Athletic Complex this afternoon for a conference matchup, The Colonials took on Purdue Fort Wayne (6-4-1, 1-1 Horizon League).
On the back of their first conference road trip of the year where the Colonials went 1-1, RMU returned home with a fresh mindset to take on the rest of conference play.
The scoring in this game wouldn’t start until the 54th minute, sophomore Ava Trethewey would get her first goal in a Colonial jersey to make the score 1-0 RMU. A little over 10 minutes later, RMU would double their advantage after a handball was called in the box and Robert Morris was awarded a penalty. Haleigh Finale would step up and take the spot kick, slotting it into the bottom corner for her fourth on the season.
The Colonials would get the win in this conference league game by a final score of 2-0.
After the game, Sentry Sports was able to catch up with the first goal scorer Ava Trethewey to get her thoughts on her first RMU goal.
“My mentality is to always get into the box,” Trethaway said. “It has been engraved into my head I just saw an opportunity to get forward and it hit off a defender and I was in the right place at the right time.”
Speaking with head Coach Michelle Rick after the game about her team’s first goal and what Ava has meant to this program early on.
“I’m really happy for her,” Rick said. “It has been coming for a few games now and she’s been right on the edge of finding one, to see her put a chance away I think is big for her confidence. She is a focal point of the attack for us and she can be dangerous herself in front of goal and also setting people up”.
After a road trip, a team has to get refreshed before a home game and coming off of a loss the team was ready to come out and attack tonight. Catching up with coach Rick after the game about how she gets her team refreshed for a home game.
“I think we came away from our first weekend on the road a little disappointed with how we performed in the second of the Detroit Mercy game, but I think we took a look at the first half and said we played some of our best soccer that game,” Rick said. “We learn the lessons we need to learn from the second half and we look at the first half we build on those”.
During the game, there was an unfortunate injury to Junior forward Malia Kearns who had to be carried off early on in the first half. An injury like that could check a team out of a game, but coach Rick and the team were able to rally around Malia and get the win for her.
“The whole team was on the same page the second that she went down, she is such a big creative force for us on the field. Our heart hurts for her, we made it our mission to play for her in the second half”.
The defense for Robert Morris was able to record another clean sheet this afternoon making it their third on the season. Junior Emerson Johngarlo and sophomore Shauna Gamble are at the heart of the team’s defense.
“Excellent performance for both of them, they both had a really solid organized night. They were big time for us with their composure building out of the back, and their organization of the back line”.
Robert Morris will be back in action for Horizon League play this Saturday versus IU Indiana. Kickoff is set for 1p.m.
