ROCHESTER, Mich. - Robert Morris (4-2-6) and Oakland (1-7-6) played to a 1-1 draw on Saturday afternoon at the Oakland Soccer Field, with both teams finding the net in an evenly contested match before a crowd of 427.
Oakland's Gabriel Baylon opened the scoring in the 28th minute, converting an assist from Andriy Bilous with a well-placed shot to the lower right corner. Robert Morris equalized through Victor Koah in the 60th minute, with Jaxson Lee providing the assist to level the match at 1-1.
The first half saw Oakland control much of the early possession, with Christopher Jean Leger testing the Robert Morris defense with a blocked shot in the second minute. The Golden Grizzlies maintained pressure through Miller Knestrict, who had two dangerous attempts before the 25-minute mark. Robert Morris responded through Royie Rahamim and Fabian Overkamp, both forcing saves from the Oakland goalkeeper.
Second half action intensified as both teams pushed for a winner. Oakland's Julian Kanzler and Abdul Al-Rashed both had promising opportunities, while Robert Morris's William Dodzi Afawubo and Jack Bejarano created several chances. The match saw significant tactical adjustments after the hour mark, with both coaches utilizing their benches extensively - Oakland making five substitutions and Robert Morris using four.
The final statistics reflected the match's competitive nature, with Oakland recording 17 shot attempts to Robert Morris's 12. The home side held a slight edge in shots on target (5-4) and corner kicks (5-3). Both teams received one yellow card each - Oakland's Gabriel Baylon in the 12th minute and Robert Morris's Kevin Gorbell in the 74th minute.
Individual performances stood out on both sides. Oakland's Tim Allos was particularly active in midfield, while Christopher Jean Leger created multiple scoring opportunities. For Robert Morris, Victor Koah's equalizing goal capped a strong overall performance, and Fabian Overkamp's presence in midfield helped maintain possession during crucial periods.
The tactical battle evolved throughout the match, with Oakland initially pressing high and forcing Robert Morris into defensive adjustments. The visitors responded by utilizing their width more effectively in the second half, particularly through Victor Thompson Jr. and Anass Hadran on the flanks. Both teams demonstrated disciplined defensive organization, limiting clear scoring opportunities despite the high shot count.
This result extends both teams' recent form trends, with Robert Morris now unbeaten in three matches following wins against IU Indy and a draw with Cleveland State. Oakland, despite their challenging season record, showed improved defensive resilience in securing their second consecutive 1-1 draw.
Looking ahead, Robert Morris returns home to face Milwaukee on October 25, while Oakland travels to Northern Kentucky on the same day. Both teams will look to build on the positive defensive displays shown in this match, though finding more clinical finishing in the final third remains a priority for both sides.
The match officials maintained consistent control throughout, with both yellow cards resulting from tactical fouls rather than excessive physical play. The draw ultimately reflected a fair result based on the balance of play and opportunities created by both teams.