Moon Township, Pa. – Eight different goal scorers contributed to the Robert Morris University men's lacrosse team's first victory of the season, a 10-8 win over Bellarmine, in the squad's home opener Saturday afternoon in Joe Walton Stadium.
 
The Colonials' (1-1, 0-0 NEC) win over the Knights (0-1, 0-0 SoCon) snapped Bellarmine's four-game winning streak in the storied series between the two non-conference opponents. Robert Morris is Bellarmine's most common opponent, as the two teams have faced one another in all 12 years of Bellarmine men's lacrosse program history. The last six contests between the two familiar foes have been decided by three goals or less.
 
For the second straight game, junior attack Adrian Torok-Orban led the Colonials offense. He posted two goals and an assist in today's win. Redshirt junior attack Justin Mayfield also scored twice. Sophomore midfield Tyson Gibson, junior defense Mitchell Wales, and junior midfield Carter Yepsen each contributed a goal and an assist.
 
Redshirt junior midfield Marshall Gibson and redshirt sophomore attack Matt Schmidt both scored for the second straight game, and freshman midfield Austin Popovich posted his first collegiate goal. Sophomore attack Shane Majewski, redshirt sophomore attack Jimmy Perkins, and sophomore long stick midfield Jack Toomb each dished a helper. Toomb led the Colonials with six ground balls. Sophomore goalie Alex Heger made 13 saves and picked up five ground balls in his second start of the season.
 
"It's a huge part of who we are this year," said head coach Andrew McMinn of the team's depth, as demonstrated by today's numerous contributors to the stat sheet. "We had some guys that were great contributors for us last year who graduated, and they were guys who were mainstays on our offense for the last few years. This year really is more about sharing the wealth so to speak and getting every guy involved. As far as how many guys we had involved on the assist side of things and then also the spread of the production on the goal side, that's exactly what we're looking for each time we take the field."
 

Robert Morris entered the fourth period up by two goals, 8-6. Bellarmine continued its efforts to chip away at the Colonials advantage, but RMU scored back-to-back goals to secure a game-high three-point lead, 10-7, and maintained a lead up to the final buzzer.
 
The Knights opened the third period with a goal to cut the Colonials' lead to one, but RMU scored three of the next four, including Popovich's first career tally at Robert Morris, to help keep the momentum in favor of the home team.
 
Four of the five goals scored in the second frame were recorded by the Colonials, but the Knights continued to keep stride. Bellarmine senior attack Tucker Ciessau racked up three goals in the first half to help the Knights remain in the game.
 
Bellarmine captured an early, 2-1 lead in the opening stanza, but Marshall Gibson and Carter Yepsen opened the second period with back-to-back goals for RMU, and the Colonials did not trail the rest of the game.
 
The Knights outshot the Colonials, 41-37, but Robert Morris controlled the possession game with 33 ground balls and edged Bellarmine in the faceoff X, 12-10.
 
"Guys really rose to the challenge and stepped up to the plate for us," McMinn added following the win. "Not only on the actual possession side of things but we're trying to turn [ground balls] into offense. It was a point of emphasis pregame. That was our 'effort stat.' We were pleased at halftime winning that battle and we really put the same focus on winning that in the second half as well. Our guys came out on top in the fifty-fifty situations and we got a lot of possessions that came up in our favor. "
 
Robert Morris heads to Riverdale, N.Y. next weekend to take on Manhattan College on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 11 a.m.
 
 
First Things First
Freshman midfield Austin Popovich scored his first collegiate goal to help the Colonials earn their first win of 2017.
 
Share the Wealth
Eleven different Colonials recorded a point in today's victory, including eight different goal scorers for Robert Morris.
 
Hold 'Em
Sophomore goalie Alex Heger's eight goals allowed in today's game marks the lowest number of goals he's let in through five career starts.
 
Schedule Notes
For the first time since 2012, the Colonials will play a game under the lights of Joe Walton Stadium, when they host Canisius on Tues., April 18 at 7 p.m. in a non-conference, evening clash. Men's and women's lacrosse will also compete in a doubleheader on Sat., March 25. The men's team will open the day with a 1 p.m. faceoff with Mount St. Mary's, and the women's squad will host crosstown rival Duquesne at 4 p.m.

 
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