Moon Township, Pa. – The Robert Morris University men's soccer team picked up its first win at home in 2016 with a 2-0 shutout against local rival Pitt Tuesday afternoon at North Athletic Complex. It was the second straight clean sheet for RMU keeper Winter Fondi as the Colonials improved to 2-3 on the year. The Panthers fall to 1-3-1.
 
Pitt controlled much of the early play and accounted for the first four shots of the game. As RMU settled down, they began generating scoring chances, the first a precursor of game's first goal as Jake Cooper sent a rocket high from 18 yards.
 
Shortly after that first shot by Cooper, RMU controlled play along the left sideline. Sophomore midfielder Keane McIvor exploited a gap to the inside with a quick side-foot pass to the center of the field. Lining up his shot, Cooper blasted a right-footed effort that picked the upper right corner and put RMU on top in the 34th minute.
 
Ten minutes after halftime, the Colonials again took advantage of their strength on the left side as McIvor held the ball near midfield. That gave time for Zac Sherman to streak in behind the defense at the same moment McIvor sent a searching ball over top of the defense. Sherman took the first bounce and chipped Pitt keeper Mikal Outcalt to put RMU ahead 2-0 in the 56th minute.
 
Robert Morris held on from there behind Fondi who was aggressive off his line and finished with five saves to record his second win of the year. Outcalt had four stops for the visiting Panthers.  McIvor assisted on both RMU goals.
 
The Colonials return to the pitch Saturday, Sept. 17 when they visit Lehigh for a 1:00 p.m. match.