Men's Lacrosse | 3/6/2015 10:03:00 AM

Robert Morris Colonials (0-4, 0-0 NEC) vs. Siena Saints (3-2, 0-0 MAAC)
Saturday, March 7, 2015 / Joe Walton Stadium – Moon Township, Pa. / 1:00 p.m.

Scouting Siena – After dropping its first two games to No. 4 Syracuse and Hobart, Siena has rattled off three straight wins coming into this weekend's meeting with the Colonials. The Saints advanced to the NCAA Tournament last season after going 6-0 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play, and finished the campaign with an overall record of 11-6.
 
Seniors Nate Barry (10g, 5a) and Richie Hurley (9g, 6a) led the team with 15 points each, while classmate Conor Prunty paces Siena with eight assists. Another senior, Casey Dowd, has collected a team-high 34 groundballs in 2015 and has won 50 of his 110 draws at the dot.
 
Between the pipes, junior Tommy Cordts and senior Nick Capalbo have both seen significant time. Cordts has gotten four of the starts, posting a 10.22 goals against average and a save percentage of .531. Capalbo started the Saints' most recent game against St. John's and has played 27 minutes more than his junior counterpart, compiling a 12.22 goals against average and a save percentage of .515 during that time.
 
Against the Saints – Robert Morris and Siena have played twice, with each team coming out victorious. The Saints defeated the Colonials in the latter's inaugural campaign, 11-3, but RMU would even the series with a 10-9 overtime victory over Siena last season. Alexander Bohl scored the walk-off winner in that contest after Sean Meagher won the opening faceoff of extra time.


 
On Deck – Robert Morris heads to the Sunshine State for spring break as it will match up with Jacksonville in a mid-week tilt. The Colonials are 4-0 all-time against the Dolphins and earned a 13-9 victory over them in Moon Township last season. James Rahe and Luke Laszkiewicz each scored four goals in that win, while Sean Meagher and Tyler Rankel combined to cause seven turnovers.
 
Last Time Out – The Colonials held a 9-7 lead on High Point midway through the third quarter last Saturday, but the Panthers stormed back to defeat the visitors, 13-10. Luke Laszkiewicz, James Rahe, and Carter Yepsen all ripped the net twice for RMU, while Sean Doyle opened the contest with his first career goal.
 
Starting Off On the Right Foot – James Rahe has been the catalyst to an improved Colonial offensive attack thus far in 2015, with 13 points (7g, 6a) in the first four games. He's averaging 3.25 points per contest, which is tops in the NEC. His assist per game total of 1.50 is also tied for the league lead.
 
Blistering Power Play – After struggling in the first two games on man-up opportunities, Robert Morris is starting to catch fire as it has scored on its last five chances. The Colonials ripped the net on their only extra-man opportunity at High Point last Saturday and went 4-4 on man-up chances two weeks ago at against Detroit.
 
Preseason Predictions – Robert Morris was selected to finish fifth in the Northeast Conference this season, according to a poll of the league's head coaches. The Colonials have gained a reputation of outperforming its prediction, finishing second in 2013 and first in 2012 after being picked third in both preseason polls.
 
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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