Men's Soccer | 10/10/2019 9:29:00 AM

MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- Following a New England split last weekend, the Robert Morris University men's soccer team will try to stay in first place in the Northeast Conference as they host a single league game against Bryant on Friday.

ROBERT MORRIS (3-7-2, 2-1-1 NEC)
vs. BRYANT (5-3-0, 2-0-0 NEC)
Friday, Oct. 11 at 3:30 p.m.
LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO

LAST WEEK
The Colonials absorbed a 6-0 defeat at Merrimack last Friday, but they proved resilient by setting a new season high for offense in a 3-1 win at Central Connecticut on Sunday. RMU built its first multi-goal lead of the season early in the second half, helping earn the first road win of 2019.

Sophomore Riccardo Rota buried a pair of goals to earn NEC Prime Performer honors, while freshman Michael Petitti had a goal and an assist in the outburst. With the three points gained from victory, RMU moved into first place in the conference, on seven points. 

KNOW BOBBY MO
• Since RMU returned just three goals and four assists from last season's roster, this year figured to require scoring by committee. As such, eight players have at least a point through eight games, and six have scored a goal. Rota is the only player with multiple goals (three), while Petitti is the lone Colonial with more than one assist (two).

• Freshman goalkeeper Mike Zolnierczyk has taken over the Colonials' No. 1 job, starting five straight games after appearing in just two of the first seven. Last year's WPIAL Class A player of the year at Springdale High School has allowed one goal or fewer in four of his past five appearances, including consecutive clean sheets Sept. 27 and 29.

• The RMU back line has been regularly manned by NCAA veterans. Senior Christopher Coridon (pictured above) and junior Oeyvind Skjesol have both started all 12 games to date, not missing a minute in the process. Two WPIAL products regularly patrol the wings: Senior Noah Elamin (Shaler Area) and junior Matt Cillo (South Fayette) have gotten 11 starts each.

• The Colonials welcome seven newcomers -- three from the Pittsburgh region. Sophomores Nick Williams and Grant Glorioso both transfer in after matriculating from North Allegheny, with Zolnierczyk further raising the Yinzer quotient. There's international flair, too, with Michael Petitti (Canada) and Said Samara Hernandez (Costa Rica) joining fellow attackers Ethan Romito of Maryland and Jon Faynik from Minnesota.

• Although the Colonials won just once in their non-conference slate, that hasn't meant much in recent history. Last year, RMU was 0-5-1 entering NEC play, but won four times in league, nearly making the postseason tournament. In 2017, they dropped their first six and went their first nine (0-7-2) without a victory. However, they won three times in league and made the NEC tourney.

• Until Rota scored three minutes into Sunday's win at Central Connecticut, the earliest Colonials goal of the season had been in the 39th minute. As such, RMU has trailed in all nine of its 12 games so far, carrying a deficit into halftime five times. The Colonials have been outscored 13-3 before halftime, getting outshot 96-61 as well.

• According to a preseason coaches poll, the Colonials were picked to finish sixth of nine teams in the NEC. RMU has finished fifth or higher in the NEC in four of the past five seasons, posting a 16-19-5 record against league foes since the 2014 campaign.

• For the first time in program history, the Colonials will play 11 home games at the North Athletic Complex, including six in a row from Sept. 12-29. That homestand matched one from 1991 for the longest in team annals. The friendly schedule came to the forefront in non-conference play, as RMU will played two of seven on the road before facing NEC opponents.

HISTORY LESSON
The Colonials have never beaten NEC rival Bryant, going 0-7-4 since the series started in 2008. However, RMU has earned a draw in each of the Bulldogs past two trips to Moon Township, including a 1-1 result in 2017. Bayley Winkel '18 netted RMU's lone tally in that one -- the Colonials' only goal against Bryant since the 2015 season.

OPPOSITION RESEARCH
Bryant is coached by 24th-year bench boss Seamus Purcell, a former Irish national team competitor. The Bulldogs have outscored their two NEC opponents by a combined 6-0 score. Sophomore forward Ben Williams has five goals and two assists in just eight appearances, while senior Alex DaCosta has piled up three goals and a team-best five helpers. 

HONOR ROLL
The following Colonials have been honored by the NEC this season ...
Mike Zolnierczyk - Prime Performer (Oct. 1)
Riccardo Rota - Prime Performer (Oct. 8)

THE DENNISTON FILE
Returning for his 23rd season in charge of the Colonials, Bill Denniston is the longest-tenured varsity head coach on campus. RMU has made seven NEC tournaments under Bethany College grad, winning the 2005 edition and making the NCAA Tournament. Denniston also led RMU to a regular-season NEC title in 2001, taking league Coach of the Year honors in the process.

Twenty-three players have made All-NEC teams under his tutelage, with several of those going on to sign pro contracts. The Jamaican attacking duo of Neco Brett and Devon Williams headline that group, as both currently star in the second-tier USL Championship here in the States. Denniston is joined on staff by sixth-year assistant Brandon Regan, who focuses on goalkeepers.

MARCH WITH THE COLONIALS
In addition to reports and videos on RMUColonials.com, check out Twitter and Instagram for news and updates throughout the season.

NEXT WEEK
The Colonials take to the road again next Sunday, Oct. 20, challenging St. Francis Brooklyn. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. in New York City.