Smithfield, R.I. – The Robert Morris University men's lacrosse team stayed with Northeast Conference (NEC) unanimous preseason favorite Bryant into the fourth quarter, but the Bulldogs would use a late 5-2 run to pull away and claim a 15-11 victory Saturday afternoon at the Bryant Turf Complex.

The setback was the first for RMU in its past 10 NEC games as the Colonials had won a league record nine consecutive conference games entering Saturday.

Robert Morris fired more shots than Bryant, had a higher clear percentage and committed 11 fewer turnovers than the Bulldogs, including a season-low five turnovers, but it would not be enough to find a winning formula Saturday.

Junior defenseman Sean Meagher (Chesterfield, Mo. / St. Louis University) contributed on both ends of the field and broke a school record in the process. Meagher tallied two caused turnovers to top the RMU single-season record for CT and now sits alone atop the chart with 24. Meagher, who also moved into a tie for fourth in career caused turnovers with his assistant coach Jordon Sealock, posted his second goal of the season and the third of his career with his long stick.

Senior Jake Hayes (Calgary, Alberta / Central Memorial) notched two goals and an assist for the third consecutive week to move his career long point streak to 25 games. He moved his goal streak and multi-point streak to 17 games each. In doing so, he tied the RMU record for consecutive game with a goal and will have a chance to break it next week. With Saturday's effort, Hayes claimed his 30th multi-point game and his 25th multi-goal outing.

Senior Tyler Digby (Westminster, British Columbia / New Westminster) continued the best offensive stretch of his career by posting a hat trick against the Bulldogs. Digby now has at least three points, including two goals, in five straight games. Digby tallied his 17th career multi-point game and his eighth multi-goal game with his effort Saturday.

Robert Morris scored twice within the first three minutes of Saturday's action, but Bryant responded by scoring five of the next six late in the first quarter and early in the second to pull ahead.

Trailing, 5-3, the Colonials would score three more goals before the half while keeping Bryant off the board to take a 6-5 RMU lead into the half.

The Bulldogs would score four times in the third quarter while holding RMU down to take a 9-6 lead after 45 minutes.

Robert Morris responded by scoring three of the first four goals in the fourth quarter to pull within a single tally, 10-9. However, Bryant would use the aforementioned run to secure the game in the victory column for the hosts.

True freshman midfielder Eric Rankel (Philadelphia, Pa. / Downingtown West) matched Hayes' output in goals and assists to tally his eighth multi-point game in 10 contests this season. It also marked Rankel's fourth multi-goal game of 2013.

Redshirt junior midfielder Taylor Graves (Carlsbad, Calif. / Carlsbad) had three points on a goal and two assists to extend his point streak to 10 games. Graves posted his sixth multi-point game of the season and the 13th of his career.

True freshman James Rahe (Aldergrove, British Columbia / W.J. Mouat) had a goal and an assist to post the first multi-point game of his career while sophomore Jacob Ruest (Cornwall, Ontario / The Hill Academy) scored to extend his point streak to seven games.

Bryant also had the benefit of having four extra-man opportunities during the game without getting whistled for a single penalty themselves.

Robert Morris will continue NEC play next weekend by facing Mount St. Mary's. The Colonials will host the Mountaineers Sunday, April 14, at 1:00 p.m.