Men's Lacrosse | 2/22/2019 1:59:00 PM
MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- The
Robert Morris men's lacrosse team, playing at Joe Walton Stadium for the 14th year in a row, welcomes the Knights of Bellarmine University for its 2019 home opener Saturday. The opening faceoff is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. ET, and admission is free, as is the live stream on NEC Front Row.
Robert Morris (0-2) vs. Bellarmine (0-3)
Feb. 23 (12:00 p.m.) - LIVE STREAM | LIVE STATS
The Colonials defeated Bellarmine, 15-7, in Louisville, Kentucky, Feb. 9, 2018, the last meeting between these teams and the first win of that year for Robert Morris. The previous six matchups were decided by three goals or less, including a 10-8 RMU victory at Joe Walton Stadium Feb. 11, 2017.
Robert Morris is coming off a narrow 14-11 defeat at No. 17/16 Georgetown last Saturday afternoon in which the Colonials did not trail until 7:36 remained in regulation time.
SCOUTING BELLARMINE
The Knights are about to meet the Colonials for the 14th time all-time, making them the most commonly-faced non-conference opponent in RMU history. Head coach Jim Mitchell, entering Saturday, seeks his first win since taking over the program. So far, they have fallen to Wagner, one of the Colonials' Northeast Conference brethren, in overtime Feb. 2, at No. 19 Marquette Feb. 9 and, most recently, at Division I independent Cleveland State last Saturday by a 17-8 margin.
Landon Trout has been the most consistent producer of offense for Bellarmine early in the season, scoring two goals in each of his first three outings. The eight points by the sophomore attackman top the team, and he racked up four points, including a hat trick, in his collegiate debut the last time he faced Robert Morris. Midfielder and fellow sophomore Luke Legnard put up three points in that 2018 contest, and he registered a hatty at CSU Feb. 16.
Senior defenseman and 2019 captain Josh Wehn leads the Knights at the other end of the field. Wehn, a 2018 Southern Conference Honor Roll selection, is also coming off an impressive outing in Cleveland, finishing that game with seven ground balls and three caused turnovers.
MUSKET SHOTS
Hey Arnold!
Trey Arnold was named a Week 2 NEC Prime Performer for his career day Feb. 16 at No. 17/16 Georgetown. Arnold won a career single-game high 18 faceoffs, and his .643 win percentage was his best since a .680 clip (17-for-25) versus Mount St. Mary's Mar. 25, 2017. Additionally, his personal-best 12 ground balls tied for the third-most in Colonials history.
Chris Barney (at Bellarmine, Feb. 15, 2014) was the last RMU player with a dozen in a single game.
Ground Round
With 170 career ground balls,
Jack Toomb is now just five behind Kyle Buchanan '12 for the No. 3 spot in RMU lore. He also ranks fourth all-time at Robert Morris with his 3.40 per-game average through Feb. 16, just ahead of
Trey Arnold (3.33). Arnold's 12 GB's at Georgetown put him past Alex Sewell '08 into sole possession of ninth place in program history, with 120.
What Aboot It?
Ryan Smith, who led the Colonials with a hat trick and four points at No. 17/16 Georgetown, is one of 15 Canadians on the 2019 roster. This gives the Colonials the most Canadians, and also, the most international players of any D-I men's team this year.
Mr. Saturday Knight
Michael Autry, who transferred to Robert Morris from Bellarmine last summer, made his Colonials debut at No. 9 Penn State, winning six faceoffs. Autry made his collegiate debut versus RMU Feb. 9, 2018, going 7-for-13 from the X. He also led Bellarmine in ground balls in 2018, finishing with 31 as a freshman. The 2019 Knights, conversely, include goalie Chase Rose, who played 14 games as an RMU rookie in 2015 and led the team in saves (147).
Alexander The Great
Alex Heger needs two saves to become the first goalkeeper in school history with 500 for his career. The 2018 NEC Tournament MVP enters Saturday fourth among active D-I goalies in all-time stops, as well as RMU's career leader in save percentage (.565), and he is tied for the most victories in a Colonials uniform (24). Heger became the first First Team Inside Lacrosse Preseason All-American in RMU history Dec. 17, 2018.
Drawing A Blank
RMU shut out GU for 17:45 at one point in the first half last Saturday. That was its longest run of shutout ball since 28:35 without a Canisius goal in the NCAA Opening Round May 9, 2018.
New Kids On The Block
In addition to
Dan Taddeo, who scored his first NCAA goal :23 into the fourth quarter,
Owen Down made his first career appearance, also getting his first start and caused turnover, at No. 9 Penn State Feb. 9. Also debuting for Robert Morris were
Derek Palma,
Colton Lidstone,
James Christoforatos,
Brandon Sulhoff,
Will Johansen,
Evan Hellmich,
Francisco Cox and local product
Josh Schreibeis (Cranberry Township, Pa.//Seneca Valley).
That Golden Touch
Tyson Gibson, a two-time First Team All-NEC honoree, played hero at No. 20 St. Joseph's in the NEC Final May 5, 2018, scoring the game's last goal with :10 left in overtime. The 2019 co-captain also scored the first Colonials goal of the year, beating Colby Kneese of No. 9 Penn State with 8:42 left in the first quarter of their Feb. 9 season opener at Holuba Hall. Including last Saturday's third-quarter strike, Gibson has goals in ten of his past 11 games and points in 23 of his last 24. He has five points (2 G, 3 A) in three career outings against the Knights.
Hat's All, Folks
Gibson's three goals at No. 9 Penn State gives the Colonials a hat trick in each of their first two games of 2019, and at least one hat trick in 12 consecutive games dating back to 2018.
Corson Kealey, who scored his first collegiate goal at Bellarmine, also netted his first HT at Robert Morris that same day, needing just 2:06 to accomplish the feat in the third quarter.
An EMO Band
Robert Morris went 4-for-4 on extra-man opportunities at No. 9 Penn State Feb. 9. This marked the third time within the past calendar year that RMU registered four man-up goals in a single game, previously accomplishing the uncommon feat versus Sacred Heart Mar. 17, 2018 and High Point Mar. 3, 2018. Last year, the Colonials led the NEC with their .429 success rate on man-ups, and they lead the conference at .714 through three weeks of play in 2019.
Schmidt Happens
Matt Schmidt, the two-time team leader in goals and a two-time All-NEC Second Team pick, scored two of the four man-up goals for Robert Morris at No. 9 Penn State. In 2018, Schmidt potted nine of those, tied for the fifth-most in the NCAA, to set a new RMU single-season record. On Feb. 9 he moved past Patrick Smith '11 for fifth all-time, with 15 man-up markers. The 2019 co-captain has scored all three career goals against Bellarmine at even strength.
Bro. Really?
This season marks the first time since 2010 that a pair of brothers is not actively playing for Robert Morris. However, the 2019 team still has family ties to past Colonials.
Will Sturgis is kin to graduate assistant
David Sturgis '18, and 2018 All-NEC Rookie Team member
Corson Kealey is the younger sibling of 2014 All-NEC Rookie Team honoree JonPatrik "JP" Kealey.
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