Capsule
The Robert Morris University men's soccer team begins the Northeast Conference (NEC) slate of its schedule on Friday, Oct. 7 when it travels to The Garden State to face Fairleigh Dickinson. The Colonials snapped a two-game skid with a 2-2 draw at Howard this past weekend, thanks to an equalizer in the 86th minute by Curran Edland. RMU was picked tied for fifth in the NEC Preseason Coaches' Poll, ahead of the seventh-place Knights, who enter this match on a four-match losing streak and an overall record of 2-7-0.
 
All-Time Series vs. Fairleigh Dickinson
Friday will mark the 25th consecutive season that Robert Morris and Fairleigh Dickinson have played. The Colonials trail in the all-time series, 10-13-4, but have won two of the last three meetings. In last year's tilt, RMU fell behind 1-0 after the opening 45 minutes before getting second half goals from Neco Brett and Zac Sherman to earn a 2-1 victory.
 
Musket Shots
> Robert Morris has fared better on the road this season, owning a 2-1-1 mark away from the North Athletic Complex
> The Colonials rattled off three straight wins between Sept. 11-17, defeating St. Bonaventure (1-0), Pittsburgh (2-0), and Lehigh (2-1)
> Junior goalkeeper Winter Fondi is one of two netminders in the NEC to post multiple shutouts this season
> Junior forward Rafael Bruzual paces RMU with three goals on the campaign
> Sophomore midfielder Keane McIvor has provided four of the Colonials' five assists
> RMU lost three home games to open the 2015 slate
> The Colonials were tied for fifth in the NEC Preseason Coaches' Poll with Bryant
> RMU went 10-8-1 last season
> A 4-2-1 NEC mark led the Colonials to their first postseason berth since 2016
> Thirteen letterwinners return to the squad including five of the six top scorers
> Bennett Jull, Keane McIvor, Lucas Puntillo and Zac Sherman all earned postseason recognition from the league last year
> Jull, McIvor and Puntillo were All-NEC Second Team selections
> Sherman and Puntillo were named to the NEC All-Rookie Team
> Puntillo is the leading returning scorer with five goals and six assists as a freshman
 
Coming Up
Robert Morris returns home next weekend for a pair of NEC tilts. The Colonials take on LIU Brooklyn at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 14 and St. Francis Brooklyn at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 16.

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