Men's Lacrosse | 4/20/2018 1:16:00 PM
MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- The No. 17/19
Robert Morris men's lacrosse team looks to keep alive its chances at a Northeast Conference regular-season title, its first since 2012, when it meets the Seahawks of Wagner College Saturday. The opening faceoff at Hameline Field on Staten Island, New York is set for 1:00 p.m. EDT.
#17/19 Robert Morris at Wagner - Apr. 21
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The Colonials (9-3, 3-1), by virtue of a St. Joseph's win over Bryant and a Mount St. Mary's win over Hobart, remain just one game off the NEC lead approaching their penultimate regular-season and conference contest. They are coming off a non-conference victory, their third in a row overall, over Cleveland State last Saturday night, a 14-5 triumph at Joe Walton Stadium in the first-ever meeting between the teams.
They used five unanswered first-half goals and a 7-0 run to open the second half to take down the Vikings. Meanwhile, RMU, taking those aforementioned NEC results into account, clinched its third consecutive NEC Tournament berth last weekend. It is the sixth in program history and fifth under head coach
Andrew McMinn.
This year's tournament takes place Thu., May 3 and Sat., May 5 at the home venue of the regular-season conference champion.
SCOUTING WAGNER
The Seahawks (4-8, 0-4), while looking to scramble playoff positioning for the Colonials, are also seeking their first win in conference play, which nearly came in come-from-behind fashion last Saturday.
Wagner fell at NEC rival Sacred Heart, 12-10, despite a 5-1 run over the final 23 minutes of play. Junior John Norton led the rally with a hat trick and moved into a share of the team lead in goals with his 19th of the season.
Fellow attackman Andrew Streilein, a two-time co-captain who also tallied for the 19th time at SHU, is playing his Senior Day game as he winds down a collegiate career in which he has seized the top spot on Wagner's all-time goals, assists and points charts. Streilein erupted for four goals when he faced Robert Morris at Joe Walton Stadium in 2017, and he has seven goals and eight points lifetime against the Colonials.
In goal, junior Matt Sefcik remains one of the nation's most consistent keepers, and he has climbed to third in school history this year with 478 career saves entering Saturday. Sefcik made 31 of those stops in two previous starts against RMU.
AGAINST THE SEAHAWKS
Historically, this rivalry has tilted sharply toward the Colonials, who have won 11 of 12 all-time meetings, including last year's, and Robert Morris has scored at least 15 goals in eight instances.
With six goals and two assists,
Matt Schmidt reached his career high in points, one shy of tying RMU's single-game record, in that 17-6 victory on Apr. 8, 2017.
Ryan Smith continued his award-winning rookie campaign with six points on five helpers and a goal, adding three ground balls.
Robert Morris's last trip to Hameline Field Apr. 30, 2016 saw senior attackman and future pro
Luke Laszkiewicz equal that school record for the second time in an 11-day span, as he finished with seven scores and two apples in an 18-12 win.
Adrian Torok-Orban found the net twice and had an assist as well.
Torok-Orban recorded his second career hat trick, and Laszkiewicz led the way with a double hat trick, also scooping a pair of ground balls, in a 14-6 decision at Joe Walton Stadium Apr. 25, 2015.
MUSKET SHOTS
Poll City
The Colonials are No. 17 in the USILA Coaches' Poll and No. 19 in the Maverik Media Poll published by Inside Lacrosse Magazine. This is the eighth week in a row RMU has, minimally, received votes in at least one of those two polls, the longest such streak in program history.
Heger Season
Alex Heger made the second round of additions to the Tewaaraton Award Watch List Apr. 12. He is the third NEC player nominated for the top award in men's lacrosse, and he is coming off his third NEC Defensive Player of the Week award for his 17-save effort versus CSU. Heger (.609; 3rd) and WC's Sefcik (.600; 4th) are both in the national top five for save percentage.
A Call To The Hall
The last Colonial nominated for the Tewaaraton Award was Kiel Matisz, who was tabbed a semifinalist in 2012. On Feb. 2 Matisz became the first men's lacrosse member of the RMU Athletics Hall of Fame. "Moose," now with the NLL's Georgia Swarm, was also a 2012 NEC Player of the Year and USILA All-American, ending up third in RMU history with 166 points.
From Bobby Mo To Pro
Zachary Bryant will also play pro ball, as he was drafted in the 5th Round of the Major League Lacrosse Collegiate Draft, 45th overall, by the MLL champion Ohio Machine Wednesday. Bryant, the program's first MLL draftee since
Sean Meagher in 2015 and fifth all-time, will be coached in the outdoor circuit by "Bear" Davis, who served as RMU's head coach 2005-2011.
Give It Away, Give It Away, Give It Away Now
Bryant,
Zac Christianson and
Jack Toomb have combined for 63 caused turnovers, making them the second-highest ranking trio in CT's in D-I. All three have been named NEC Prime Performers this season, and Bryant, on Apr. 10 at Canisius, became the only other Colonial besides Meagher to record five or more CT's in a single game twice in the same year.
You'll Get Nothing And Like It!
Robert Morris shut out Cleveland State for 35:07 at one point, and Heger blanked Mount St. Mary's for the last 27:01 Mar. 24. He went 27:36 between both goals he allowed at Marquette Mar. 10. Together, they held Wagner scoreless for a stretch of 42:36 in their last meeting.
Afternoon "D"-Light
The Colonials are up to ninth in the NCAA with their team GAA of 8.17 and on pace to shatter the RMU single-season record (10.31 in 2017). They are third in both CT's per game (9.92) and man-down defense (.794). Heger is sixth in GAA (7.85) and fifth in saves per game (12.08).
An EMO Band
RMU has scored 16 of its 18 goals on extra-man opportunities over its last eight games. The Colonials are sixth nationally at .529 in man-ups, and
Matt Schmidt shares second place in D-I with eight EMO goals, tying the RMU single-season record set by
Jake Hayes in 2011.
Schmidt Happens
Schmidt is averaging 1.97 goals per game all-time, third-best in team history, and has a goal in 11 straight. Last year against Wagner, he became the ninth different RMU player with six or more in a game, and he is coming off a natural hat trick versus CSU, his fifth HT this year.
Do You Smell What The Rok Is Cooking?
Adrian Torok-Orban was named an NEC Prime Performer for getting his third straight hat trick in NEC play at Hobart Apr. 7. Nine of his 12 career hat tricks have come against NEC foes.
Hey Rookie, Welcome To The Show
RMU has gotten 19 of its NEC-high 128 goals from
Corson Kealey and
Jake Boudreau. A goal Saturday would give Boudreau, coming off his first multi-goal game, his first goal streak.
Bro. Really?
Robert Morris has had a set of brothers on its roster every year since 2010. The Gibsons (Marshall & Leighton), Yepsens (Carter & Conner) and Sturgises (Will & David) make up the Colonial family who are literal family.
Carter Yepsen's eight points (6 G, 2 A) lead that pack.
Captain's Gotta Teach Stuff
Justin Mayfield and
Marshall Gibson captain RMU for a second time this year, and
Leighton Gibson and defensive midfielder
Sean Doyle round out its 2018 leadership group. Doyle earned his first-ever game-winning assist on the winning goal by
James Scane at Canisius with 2:10 left in regulation, Scane's first game-winner as a collegian.
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