University Park, Pa. – In its season opener against a nationally-ranked squad, the Robert Morris University men's lacrosse team fell to No. 15/14 Penn State, 15-11, Saturday afternoon at Holuba Hall in University Park, Pa.
 
Eight different Colonials contributed points in a balanced offensive effort. Junior attack Adrian Torok-Orban posted four points on one goal and three assists. Redshirt sophomore Matt Schmidt tabbed a hat trick with a career-high three goals. Sophomore midfield Tyson Gibson matched a career-best three points with one goal and two assists. Junior midfield Carter Yepsen tallied two goals, and redshirt junior midfield Marshall Gibson registered one goal and one assist to mark a career-high two points. Sophomore Jack Toomb scored his first career goal.
 
Sophomore defense Zac Christianson recorded three ground balls and caused two turnovers. Sophomore goalkeeper Alex Heger made 12 saves.
 
Robert Morris (0-1, 0-0 NEC) trailed Penn State (1-0, 0-0 Big Ten) by one goal, 10-9, entering the fourth quarter. The Nittany Lions scored 30 seconds into the frame to go ahead by two, but Schmidt responded for the Colonials with his second goal of the game to bring the score back within one, 11-10. PSU scored the next four goals to take its largest lead of the half, 15-10. Schmidt capped the fourth with his third goal of the game, a man-up tally, but the one minute remaining on the clock expired with the Nittany Lions in front at the final buzzer.
 
Both teams scored three goals in the third quarter, and traded scores back in forth. RMU managed to knot the score twice, and only ever allowed PSU to lead by two, but could never capture a lead.
 
Heger made six saves in the second period, and the Colonials outscored the Nittany Lions, 2-1, but Penn State got a head start in the opening stanza, and scored six goals compared to RMU's four through the first 15 minutes of action.
 
Robert Morris remained competitive with Penn State throughout all 60 minutes of the game, and never allowed the Nittany Lions to lead by more than five goals, which only occurred once and lasted briefly during the waning minutes of the final quarter.
 
RMU converted on both of its man-up scoring opportunities, and held PSU to a 1-2 mark with an extra man on the field.
 
"We were very pleased with the overall team effort," head coach Andrew McMinn said following the game. "Although we came up short, both sides of the field used a collective effort to put us in position to win the game in the fourth quarter."
 
Robert Morris opens its home slate on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 11 a.m. against Bellarmine in Joe Walton Stadium.
 
 
First Things First
Jimmy Perkins, Austin Popovich, Zach Lynch, Trey Arnold, Dylan Sidoriak, and Clayton Paysen all made their RMU debut today at Penn State.
 
Diving Right In
For the first time since 2011, Robert Morris opened the season against a ranked opponent.
 
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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