Men's Lacrosse | 2/9/2015 6:27:00 PM

Robert Morris Colonials (0-0, 0-0 NEC) @ Ohio State Buckeyes (0-1, 0-0 B1G)
Tuesday, February 10, 2015 / Woody Hayes Athletic Center – Columbus, Ohio / 7:00 p.m.

Scouting Ohio State – Ohio State dropped its season opener this past weekend in a 9-8 defeat to Detroit. The Buckeyes return their top nine scorers from a season ago, including senior midfielder Jesse King, who led OSU in all scoring categories last season, collecting 29 goals and 22 assists for a total of 51 points. Junior attackman Carter Brown added 22 goals and 12 helpers for a Buckeyes squad who received votes in the preseason national rankings. Defensemen Evan Mulchrone and Robby Haus each caused a team-high 16 turnovers in 2014, while sophomore Jake Withers scooped up 64 groundballs. Three goaltenders return for the Buckeyes, but they combined to make four appearances last season.
 
Against the Buckeyes – Robert Morris is 2-5 against Ohio State in program history, but has won the previous two meetings. Three seasons ago, the Colonials knocked off a nationally-ranked Buckeyes squad in Columbus, 9-7. RMU's other win over OSU came in 2010 as hat tricks from Trevor Moore and Corbyn Tao-Brambleby lifted the Colonials past the Buckeyes, 12-7.


 
On Deck – Robert Morris returns to campus for its home opener on Saturday when Bellarmine comes to town. This will be the seventh consecutive season and the ninth overall in which the Colonials have played the Knights. Bellarmine holds the all-time series record at 6-3, having added to that thanks to a 10-7 victory in Louisville on Feb. 15, 2014.
 
O Captain! My Captain! – In November, Colonials head coach Andrew McMinn designated seniors Luc Magnan, Jacob Ruest, Joseph Scenna, and Michael Seidel as captains for this year's team.
 
Magnan, a defenseman from Pine Falls, Manitoba, has caused 34 turnovers in 41 career games, which is tied for the ninth-highest total in program history. He earned All-NEC Second Team accolades as a sophomore after forcing 23 turnovers and collecting 29 groundballs.
 
Ruest, an attackman from Cornwall, Ontario, has compiled 35 points (19g, 16a) and 58 groundballs in 42 career games. He has collected the most groundballs among RMU attackmen the last two years, with 32 in 2013 and 20 in 2014.
 
Scenna, a defenseman from Collegeville, Pa., has played in all but one game since being redshirted during the 2011 season. He has tallied 36 groundballs and 14 caused turnovers while donning the Colonial colors.
 
Seidel, a long-stick midfielder from Edmonton, Alberta, has played in 26 games during his time at RMU. Last season he caused eight turnovers and collected four groundballs, and scored the first goal of his career.
 
Terrific Trio – Robert Morris returns its top three scorers from a season ago in Eric Rankel, Luke Laszkiewicz, and James Rahe. The junior trio combined for 64 goals, 37 assists, and 101 points in 2014. Rankel (first) and Rahe (second) earned All-NEC honors, while Laszkiewicz made the All-NEC Rookie Team in 2013.
 
Brotherly Love – The Colonials have had a history of brothers playing together and this season is no different with three sets on the roster. The Gibsons (Leighton and Marshall), Wales (Eric and Mitchell), and Yepsens (Carter and Conner) make up the RMU family who are actually family. The last time the Colonials have not had a set of brothers on their roster was in the 2010 season.
 
Travelin' Men – Robert Morris is scheduled to play in eight different states this season, tying a school record set in its inaugural season of 2005 and in 2011. The Colonials will stay in the Keystone State for seven games with home contests and a trip to Philadelphia. RMU will also visit Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, and Rhode Island during the 2015 campaign.
 
New Faces – The Colonials welcome 16 freshmen and a junior college transfer to the program in 2015. In addition, RMU also will be guided by two new assistant coaches in Travis Harrington and Robert Marasti.
 
Harrington is a 2012 graduate of Bryant and previously coached at Seton Hill. Marasti is an alumnus of the program, having played for the Colonials from 2008 to 2011.

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