Kwesi Annoh’s breakaway goal early in the second half proved to be the game winner in the Purdue University Calumet men’s soccer team’s 1-0 league win over visiting Robert Morris University Saturday.
Annoh (Browns Mills, N.J./Pemberton Township) netted his third goal of the season in the 47th minute, as the junior midfielder broke free down the left side before beating the Eagles’ keeper left to give the Peregrines’ a 1-0 lead just out of the break.
A combination of both Purdue Calumet’s offense and defense did the rest, as the Peregrines (9-5-1, 6-2-1) controlled the ball up front and freshman keeper Miguel David (Spring Valley, Calif./Bonita Vista) made eight total saves – including a fantastic diving stop in the 30th minute -- to help preserve the win. Robert Morris forward Jacob Loncar’s header to the left appeared to have a chance to score, but David laid out to the left, deflecting the ball with one hand to help complete his fourth-straight shutout and fifth of the season.
The Peregrines’ offense led, edging the Eagles (3-9-1, 3-4-1) in shots 19-18 , while the Eagles held a 4-2 advantage on corner kicks.
Junior Papa Otoo (Bradenton, Fla./Braden River) led the Peregrines with five shots, while Andres Ayala (San Antonio, Texas/Reagan) and Zac Doepke (Troy, Mich./Troy) each had three.
Purdue Calumet, which is almost certain a lock into its first Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament since the program was reinstated in 2011, now has 19 points and is tied for second place in the league standings with two games left. The Peregrines return to action Tuesday with a road contest at St. Francis (Ill.) before returning home for their final league contest Nov. 1 with a match against Holy Cross.