Smithfield, R.I. – The
Robert Morris University men's lacrosse team was unable to withstand a fourth quarter comeback by Bryant University as the Colonials fell to the Bulldogs, 10-8, in Northeast Conference (NEC) play this afternoon from the Bryant Turf Complex.
Despite the loss, Robert Morris (2-10, 1-4 NEC) remains in the hunt for the fourth seed in the NEC Tournament.
Junior midfielder
Eric Rankel registered his 10th career hat trick in the loss and added an assist for a four-point afternoon. His classmate
James Rahe dished out two helpers and scored once, tying his career-high for points in a season with the three-point effort.
Bryant (5-7, 3-2 NEC) scored the only goal of the first quarter when Shane Morrell ripped the net midway through.
The Colonials answered 4:22 into the second frame. Rankel caused a turnover in the defensive box and carried the groundball downfield to create a fastbreak, eventually dishing it off to sophomore midfielder
Alexander Bohl for a goal.
Rankel responded to a Bulldog tally on a man-up chance when he buried a feed from
Adrian Torok-Orban. However, Bryant scored once more to take a 3-2 lead into the halftime break.
The Downingtown, Pa. native picked up his second goal to begin the second half when he gathered a pass from junior attack
Luke Laszkiewicz and let loose a left-handed rip.
After a Bryant goal, RMU tied it at 4-4 almost immediately as senior captain
Jacob Ruest found the back of the net.
Ruest's goal seemed to spark the Colonials as redshirt junior midfielder
Chris Barney won the ensuing face-off and helped draw a penalty on the Bulldog defense. RMU took advantage of the extra-man chance as Rahe found redshirt junior attack
Eric Wales on the doorstep for a beautiful goal that gave the visitors their first lead of the afternoon.
The Colonials added to that lead 1:21 later when freshman midfielder
Carter Yepsen juked a defender and used the extra space to fire a left-handed shot into the netting.
Tom Forsberg's tally with 2:18 remaining in the third quarter started a four-goal run for Bryant, giving the hosts an 8-6 advantage.
Rahe stopped the bleeding with 7:46 left in regulation, but the Bulldogs responded with two goals to make it 10-7.
Rankel completed his hat trick with an underhanded rip at the 12:45 mark. Another Barney win from the X gave RMU life, but Bulldogs goaltender Gunnar Waldt made two saves to preserve a victory.
Freshman goaltender
Chase Rose made 10 saves in the loss.
Bryant's Kevin Massa broke the NCAA record for face-off wins in a career after being victorious on the opening draw of the fourth quarter.
Robert Morris concludes the road slate of its regular-season schedule next Saturday when it travels west to take on Air Force. Opening draw between the Colonials and Falcons is set for 11:00 a.m. (MDT) from Falcon Stadium.
