So close but not quite enough; Colonials tie with Bison

Photo+credit%3A+Katey+Ladika

Photo credit: Katey Ladika

Lea Chocolas

The Robert Morris Colonials finished their seventh game of the season Saturday evening with a 1-1 tie to the Bucknell Bison after both teams failed to tally another goal after two overtime periods.

Colonial senior Bayley Winkel scored his sixth goal of the season early in the first half to give Robert Morris the lead.

“It was a lot like my other goals. Going one-on-one through my teammate getting the ball in those situations, and I’m just looking at the goal,” Winkel said. “I did a couple jukes and finally beat the goalie to my right and simple shot that went in,” Winkle said.

Coach Bill Denniston says Winkel has improved his game a lot since last season.

“Bayley is super-fast. Last year he really didn’t do very much and was one of those players who you watched and thought he should be tearing it up, and now he is,” said Denniston. “When he’s one-on-one, there’s a pretty good chance he’s going to get a shot,” Denniston said.

The Colonials effort today was great and they’re making progress. Like every team, Denniston is expecting his players to win.

“The players know we need to win for mentality more than anything because they have been playing well. So today is not a complete disappointment. Although, certainly disappointing. We need to handle the lead a little better. We play a certain way until we get a goal or two, and then we tend to sit back a bit and invite pressure, and that costs you,” Denniston said.

Bayley Winkel isn’t the only Colonial playing great. Goalkeeper Winter Fondi has been solid for the Colonials so far this season.

“Fondi, every game, saves. The Bison had a lot of shots and outshot us, and Fondi had a lot of saves and we rely on him a lot,” said Winkel. “Being a goalkeeper is a hard job to do. You can’t blame him when the goals go in, but he can stop blocks,” Winkle said.

However, Denniston doesn’t have any concerns for the rest of the season.

“I think we’re going to be absolutely fine. I look at what the rest of the conference is doing, I look at the way we’re playing. The results haven’t come so far, but that isn’t as important as it will be in a few weeks from now for conferences,” Denniston said.

During the second half, Bison sophomore Nick King tied the score with less than five minutes left in the second.

Neither team was able to find the back-of-net during the extra overtime periods.

The Colonials are now 0-6-1 this season. The next game for Robert Morris is Tuesday night at the University of Pittsburgh.