Sept. 27, 2006

Box Score

PITTSBURGH- The Pitt men's soccer team dropped a 4-1 decision to Robert Morris Wednesday night at Founders Field. The Panthers are now 3-6-2, while the Colonials improved to 5-4-1 on the season.

Freshman Samuli Ahola (Mikkelli, Finland/Mikkelli) scored his first collegiate goal off a penalty kick in the second minute of play. Ahola drove the ball past a diving Robert Morris goalie and into the right side of the net to give the Panthers an early 1-0 lead. The Colonials went on to score four unanswered points.

Junior Connor Curran-Hays had a career day for Robert Morris. Seconds after entering the game, he assisted the team's first goal in the 15th minute of play when the Colonials were on a quick break downfield. Curran-Hays passed the ball off to teammate Ryan Zabinski who dumped it in the left corner of the net, tying the game at 1-1.

It was Curran-Hays who struck next for Robert Morris, with his first goal of the game coming off an assist from teammate Sean Riley. Less than a minute after scoring his first, Curran-Hays got his second goal of the night off a corner kick from Zabinski. Curran-Hays went on to score once more at 64:02, after rebounding his own shot, pushing the score to its final of 4-1.

Freshman Matt Baker (Bethlehem, Pa./Bethlehem) tallied four shots with three on goal for the night, while teammates Tyler Bastianelli (Bear, Del./St. Mark's) and E.J. McCormick (Pittsburgh, Pa./Fox Chapel) each racked up three shots. Pitt finished the game with 14 shots, while Robert Morris collected 18.

The Panthers will be back in action on Sunday, Oct. 1 as they take on Big East opponent Marquette in a 1 p.m. game at Founders Field.

SCORING SUMMARY

Founders Field, Indianola, Pa.

RMU               1          3          4

PITT                1          0          1

SCORING SUMMARY

PITT: Ahola (unassisted), 1:58

RMU: Zabinski (Curran-Hays), 15:46

RMU: Curran-Hays (Sean Riley), 56:48

RMU: Curran-Hays (Zabinski), 57:39

RMU: Curran-Hays (unassisted), 64:02

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