Moon Township, Pa. – The Northeast Conference portion of the season opens tomorrow, when the Robert Morris University men's lacrosse team travels to Sacred Heart for a noon faceoff on Saturday, March 18 at Campus Field in Fairfield, Conn.
 
Robert Morris (4-3) opens the NEC slate following back-to-back losses to Georgetown and Marquette. Prior to those setbacks, the Colonials had put together a four-game winning streak after a season-opening loss to a nationally ranked Penn State squad. The Pioneers (4-2) enter Saturday's conference matchup following a last-second loss to Vermont. Sacred Heart is 1-2 at home this season.

 
 

ROBERT MORRIS AT SACRED HEART
SATURDAY, MARCH 18		Faceoff	Live Stream	Live Stats
ROBERT MORRIS | SACRED HEART		12:00 p.m.	NEC Front Row	Sacred Heart

 
 
Robert Morris versus Sacred Heart
Sacred Heart (4-2, 0-0 NEC)
Robert Morris is 5-7 all time against Sacred Heart. The Colonials claimed last season's meeting versus the Pioneers, 12-7, which snapped a three-game losing skid against the fellow NEC opponent. Last year against the Pioneers, junior attack Adrian Torok-Orban recorded a career-high-tying four goals and one assist to match his career best five points.
 
Scouting Sacred Heart
Sacred Heart is coming off a heartbreaker against Vermont. The Pioneers fell to the Catamounts, 11-10, Saturday afternoon, after Vermont scored a game-winning goal with 0.9 seconds left. Sophomore midfield Max Tuttle led the Pioneers with five goals. Junior long stick midfield Nick Albanese led the defense with seven ground balls. Freshman goalkeeper Brooks Dutton made eight saves. SHU leads the Northeast Conference in ground balls per game (28.67) and caused turnovers per game (10.50). Senior long stick midfield Ryan O'Donoghue is tied for first in the nation in caused turnovers per game (3.00). Redshirt sophomore attack Joe Saggese currently paces the league in goals per game (3.20). Dutton tops the NEC in goals against average (8.67).
 

National Radar
Last week, Robert Morris was receiving votes in the USILA/Nike Division I Coaches Poll for the first time since 2012.
 
Among the Ranks
The Colonials boast the No. 9 man-up offense in the nation (.538), and rank among the top 20 in saves per game (15^th; 12.57), caused turnovers per game (16^th; 7.86), and clearing percentage (18^th; .895). Sophomore goalkeeper Alex Heger ranks 15^th in the nation in save percentage (.559), and 14^th in saves per game (12.14).
 
Mr. Reliable
Junior attack Adrian Torok-Orban is one of 25 players nationally who are currently riding a 20-plus game point streak (22 games: 45G, 14A, 59P) dating back to April 25, 2015.
 
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.
 
Colonials in the Pros
There are currently eleven former Colonials from the Robert Morris men's lacrosse program competing in the National Lacrosse League (NLL).
 
 
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