Moon Township, Pa. - Senior cornerback Mike Niklos (Columbus, Ohio / Bishop Watterson) became the third Robert Morris University defensive player to garner Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors for the Colonials in 2006 Monday, as he was honored by the conference after his performance in a 21-6 win at Stony Brook, Oct. 28.

Niklos follows in the footsteps of junior linebacker Chad Wengert (Kempton, Pa. / Kutztown) and senior linebacker Jeff Rommes (Gibsonia, Pa. / Deer Lakes), who were honored as NEC Defensive Player of the Week Oct. 2, 2006, and Oct. 16, 2006, respectively.

Niklos helped RMU seal its fourth straight road victory with a pair of fourth-quarter interceptions and was key in holding Stony Brook, which entered the game averaging 34.2 points per game in league contests, to just six points on the afternoon. His first interception came with less than eight minutes to play when he ran step-for-step with Seawolves wideout Lynell Suggs down the sideline, then stepped in front of the receiver in the end zone to record the pick.

On Stony Brook's last drive of the afternoon with less than two minutes to play Niklos picked off Seawolves quarterback Josh Dudash for a second time to help seal the victory. He also added four tackles in the victory, including three solo.

On the 2006 season Niklos leads the NEC in interceptions (5) and passes defended (11). He has also added 38 tackles, including 24 solo, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a blocked kick. The pair of picks for Niklos against Stony Brook moved him into third place all-time at Robert Morris and fourth in NEC annals with 13 career interceptions.

Thanks to RMU's win at Stony Brook, the Colonials bumped up two spots to No. 5 in the latest I-AA mid-major poll according to The Sports Network.

Under the direction of 13th-year head coach Joe Walton, Robert Morris hosts Albany at Joe Walton Stadium Saturday, Nov. 4, for yet another key NEC tilt at 1:00 p.m. The Colonials enter the game with an overall record of 6-3 and 4-1 in conference play and currently are in a four-way tie for first place in the league standings.

Joining RMU with 4-1 conference records are Albany, Monmouth and Stony Brook. The Great Danes enter Saturday's game against Robert Morris with an overall record of 6-3 and are ranked fourth in the latest I-AA mid-major poll. The Colonials will close out their 2006 regular season Saturday, Nov. 11, when they travel to Fairfield, Conn., for a 1:00 p.m. game at Sacred Heart.