Firebirds Falter in Second Half, Fall 4-0 in Season Finale at Roberts Wesleyan

ROCHESTER, NY – The University of the District of Columbia men's soccer team was defeated, 4-0 by East Coast Conference foe Roberts Wesleyan in its season finale on a cold, wet Sunday afternoon in upstate New York.

Despite an impressive 5-2 mark in home games this season, the Firebirds finished with an overall record of 6-9-2 as a result of going winless (0-7-1) on the road. A first-year member of the ECC, District of Columbia finished 2-6-1 in league play. The Redhawks, also a first-year member of the league, finished the season at 7-8-1 overall and 4-4-1 in the ECC.

Brandon Bianchi scored the game's opening goal after nearly 35 minutes of scoreless action, taking a feed from Brent Owens and burying a shot past Firebirds' freshman goalkeeper Risheq Waleed (Greensboro, NC/Freedom HS). With that goal, the Redhawks took a 1-0 lead and the game's momentum into intermission.

Roberts Wesleyan went on to score early and often in the second half, starting with a goal by Johnny Lobene not two minutes after play resumed. Alex Harling then tallied in the 54^th minute and Donavan Wilson completed the day's scoring with a goal in the 69^th minute off of an assist by Michael Cunningham.

Waleed made five saves and allowed four goals in a losing effort while RWC's Michael Scavone made four saves to earn a share of a shut-out win with backup keeper Florian Witte (0 GA, 0 Saves, 17:40 minutes played).