Moon Township, Pa. – The
Robert Morris University men's lacrosse team is gearing up for three games in a seven-day span, starting with a road trip to High Point for a 4 p.m. matchup with the Panthers on Sunday, March 5 in High Point, N.C.
Robert Morris (3-1) is riding a three-game winning streak after a 15-6 victory over Detroit Mercy. Sophomore goalkeeper
Alex Heger allowed just five goals and made seven saves in the win, and both redshirt sophomore attack
Matt Schmidt and freshman attack
Ryan Smith tabbed his first career hat trick. High Point (2-3) enters the weekend following an 18-12 setback to No. 11 University of Virginia.
| ROBERT MORRIS AT HIGH POINT |
| SUNDAY, MARCH 5 |
|
Faceoff |
Live Stream |
Live Stats |
| ROBERT MORRIS | HIGH POINT |
|
4:00 p.m. |
Big South Sports |
Sidearm |
Robert Morris versus High Point
High Point (2-3, 0-0 Southern Conference)
Robert Morris is 0-2 all time against High Point. Both meetings between the two teams were decided by five goals or less. The Panthers defeated the Colonials in Joe Walton Stadium last season, 15-10.
Scouting High Point
The High Point Panthers are coming off an 18-12 loss to a nationally ranked University of Virginia Cavaliers squad. The Cavaliers and Panthers were tied, 3-3, early, before UVA went on an 11-0 tear to take control of the game. Despite the loss, sophomore goalkeeper Tim Troutner made a career-high 19 saves. Junior attack Jason Ashwood tabbed his first career hat trick and a career-high four points, while junior midfield Connor Robinson posted his second straight multi-point effort. High Point is 12-9 in non-conference home games during its first five seasons of NCAA action. The Panthers are 19-3 against unranked foes at home since the start of the 2014 campaign, and have won their last eight home games.
Among the Ranks
Robert Morris ranks ninth in the nation in man-up offense (.571) tenth in assists per game (8.75) and caused turnovers per game (9.25), eleventh in points per game (22.25), fourteenth in scoring offense (13.50) and fourteenth in shot percentage (.344). They boast the top points per game and assists per game average in the Northeast Conference (NEC) and rank second in the league in goals per game. Sophomore goalkeeper
Alex Heger ranks fourteenth in the nation in save percentage (.573) and leads the NEC in the same category, as well as goals against average (9.05).
Mr. Reliable
Junior attack
Adrian Torok-Orban is currently riding a 19-game point streak, dating back to April 25, 2015.
O Captain! My Captain!
Colonials head coach
Andrew McMinn designated
Marshall Gibson and
Justin Mayfield as captains for this year's team.
Redshirt junior midfield Gibson and redshirt junior attack Mayfield were held from competition in 2016 due to injury.
The Trifecta
Robert Morris returns three of its top six scorers from a season ago, compiled of a talented trio in
Adrian Torok-Orban,
Alexander Bohl, and
Eddie Smith. The midfield (Bohl) and two attacks combined for 52 goals, 26 assists, and 78 points in 2016. Smith was named to the All- NEC Rookie Team last year.
All-NEC Returnees
RMU returns two members of the 2016 All-NEC Rookie Team in sophomore goalkeeper
Alex Heger and sophomore attack
Eddie Smith. Heger went 4-3 and logged 464:13 of playing time in his debut season. He made a career-high 15 saves in his first start at Mercer. He finished the 2016 campaign ranked third in the league in goals against average (8.92) and save percentage (.540). Smith finished fifth on the team in goals and sixth in points. He made eight starts and saw action in all 15 games in 2016. He scored a career-high four goals in a pivotal NEC victory against St. Joseph's. Both Heger and Smith were named NEC Rookie of the Week twice last year.
Brotherly Love
The Colonials have had a history of brothers playing together and this season is no different with two sets on the roster. The Gibsons (Leighton and Marshall), and Yepsens (Carter and Conner) make up the RMU family who are truly family. Junior
Mitchell Wales is also part of a RMU brotherly duo. His brother, Eric, is now a Robert Morris lacrosse alum after graduating last year. The last time the Colonials have not had a set of brothers on their roster was in the 2010 season.
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).
Follow RMU Lacrosse:
@RMUMLacrosse
@RMUMLacrosse
Robert Morris Lacrosse
