Box Score WASHINGTON, DC --- In front of Howard's most decorated program, the Howard men's soccer team took an early lead but could not fend off a Robert Morris rally as the visiting Colonials defeated the Bison, 2-1, Sunday afternoon at Greene Stadium.
The Bison Booters were playing their final non-conference home game in the presence of several members of Howard's 1974 NCAA National Championship team, who we in attendance to celebrate the 40th anniversary of their national title and their Friday induction into the Howard Athletics Hall of Fame.
Howard (0-11-1) seemed invigorated by their predecessors' attendance and controlled much of the tempo in the first half. Howard and Robert Morris (4-4-1) each took six shots in the opening period but Howard took the edge thanks to an 17th minute goal from sophomore forward
Emmanuel Iledare. A left side cross from freshman midfielder
Stephen Douba landed high in front of the net, where Iledare sent it home on an acrobatic jumping header.
The Bison held their lead going into halftime, were the '74 team was honored by Director of Athletics Louis "Skip" Perkins. Former head coach Lincoln "Tiger" Phillips, along with a contingent of players and their families, posed for photos with their NCAA Championship trophy. The team also received a proclamation from the Office of District of Columbia Mayor Vincent C. Gray, which was delivered by Margaret M. J. Forde, Chairwoman of the Mayor's Advisory Commission on Caribbean Community Affairs.
The program's moment of jubilation quickly faded once the second half commenced. Less than 10 minutes into the final period, Robert Morris' Neco Brett finally (52') scored on one of his game-high five shots. Brett took a pass from teammate Bruce Cullen and sent a 10-yard shot pass Howard senior goalkeeper
Eric Hamilton to even the match. Nearly eight minutes after his first goal, Brett put home the eventual game winner after Andrew Scheidemantel put a perfectly-place left side cross feet away from the goal, where Brett simply chipped home the Colonials' final score.
Howard will have some time off before it shifts its focus to the program's inaugural game as a member of the Sun Belt Conference - their October 11th home match against Appalachian State University. First kick for the Thursday contest is scheduled for 7 p.m.
