WASHINGTON, DC --- Senior forward Rasheeda Ansari capped off an impressive season debut by scoring the game-winning goal in the Howard women's soccer team's 3-2 come-from-behind victory over Robert Morris University Friday evening at Greene Stadium.


With the win, Howard remains undefeated at home on the season at 2-0.

Ansari, who was unavailable for the team's first four games, came off the bench in the 25th minute for Howard (2-3) and immediately made her presence felt on the pitch.

Her trademark speed and elusiveness were on display immediately but the dividends did not pay off as quickly. Nearly seven minutes after Ansari checked in, Robert Morris (0-4) scored the first goal of the game (34') on a corner kick-header combo by RMU's Lauren Bukowski & Theresa Laux.

In the waning moments of the first half, Ansari led a full field breakaway that set up sophomore forward Jordan Bynoe with a perfect chance to even the match. Unfortunately, Bynoe's shot took an unlucky path, hitting the base of the left post straight on and bouncing away.

Although the Bison were outshot 13-5 in the first half and struggled with possession during the opening period, the team started the second much stronger. Less than five minutes in, freshman midfielder Anna Mitchell and sophomore forward Kela Gray had a two-on-one opportunity against Colonials goalkeeper Chelsea De Jager but Mitchell missed the shot wide.

However, when presented with a second chance almost 10 minutes later, Mitchell converted on her third goal of the year (59') off a left to middle cross from sophomore forward/midfielder Whitney White. Howard would steadily gain momentum from there by playing more aggressive defense and keeping possession in its attacking third longer.

Ansari would help punctuate the Bison's shifting fortunes by setting up Gray for a go-ahead score in the 86th minute. Ansari made a push along the right side of the field, beat her defender back inside and passed to Gray, who controlled the ball away from the goal before turning and shooting into the bottom left corner of the net.

Gray's goal would set in motion a flurry of action down the stretch. Less than a minute after Gray scored, Bukowski struck again for Robert Morris, crossing a ball from the right side near the corner into the box and onto the head of Gabrielle Corrente to make the score 2-2.

In the 88th minute, with the increasingly engaged Howard crowd cheering the team on, Ansari would seal the victory for the Bison. The deciding score was set up by Gray and White; Gray was able to get a pass into the box to White from the right. White deflected the ball right to Ansari, who sent the team and the fans into a frenzy with the goal. 

Freshman goalkeeper Mackenzie Diotte made her third start in five games and logged double-digit saves for the second straight game, stopping 10 Colonials attempts.

NEXT UP: Howard has a week until its next game, a 7 p.m. home contest against American University on Friday, August 11

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