Men’s Soccer Remains Unbeaten In NEC Action, Defeats Robert Morris, 2-1

October 9, 2011

HAMDEN, Conn. – Junior forward Philip Suprise (Milwaukee, Wisc.) scored a goal and drew a penalty in the goalkeeper’s box in the 79^th minute that led to the game-winning goal, as the Quinnipiac men’s soccer team won its third straight Northeast Conference game on Sunday afternoon with a 2-1 victory over Robert Morris. Senior defender Matthew Rothbart (Cheshire, Conn.) capitalized on the infraction and buried his first penalty kick opportunity of the season to lead Quinnipiac to a 5-4 overall record and a 3-0 NEC mark. The loss drops Robert Morris to 4-6-1 overall and 0-4 in NEC action.

Suprise created havoc for the Colonial’s defense all game, firing three shots in the contest overall. Following an early goal by Robert Morris’ sophomore forward Prince Samuels in the ninth minute of the first half, Suprise tallied the Bobcats’ first goal just before halftime in the 41^st minute of play. Freshman defender Hakon Weloy Aarseth knocked the ball forward to Suprise, who blew by one defender before he took a look at the net and sliced the ball with the outside of his right foot into the far right-hand corner of the goal. Suprise earned his third goal of the season, while Weloy Aarseth was credited with his first-career collegiate assist.

The second half was a defensive battle on both ends, as neither team could find an opening past either goalkeeper through the first 30 minutes of play. However, in the 79^th minute Surprise found himself one-on-one with Robert Morris’ last defender. The junior forward touched the ball to the right and raced past the defender, but was tripped up inside the goalkeeper’s box before he could take the shot. Rothbart kept his composure on the penalty kick and hit a low line-drive to the right corner of the net, by Robert Morris’ junior goalkeeper Toba Bolaji.

The Bobcats held off the Colonials for the final 12 minutes to preserve their second-consecutive 2-1 victory.

Freshman goalkeeper Borja Angoitia (Bilbao, Spain) made two saves in net for Quinnipiac to improve his record to 5-2 on the year. Bolaji made five saves for the Colonials in the loss.

Quinnipiac held the shot advantage, 16-to-14, while each team took seven corner kicks in the game.

The Bobcats return to action on Sunday, Oct. 16 when they travel to Fairleigh Dickinson at 3 p.m.

Contact: Ross Bennett; rsbennett@quinnipiac.edu