Men's Soccer | 9/11/2019 1:16:00 PM

MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- After taking to the road for two, the Robert Morris University men's soccer team begins a historic six-match homestand this week when it welcomes non-conference opponents California Baptist and Longwood to the North Athletic Complex.

ROBERT MORRIS (0-4-0) vs. CALIFORNIA BAPTIST (1-2-1)
Thursday, Sept. 12 at 4 p.m.
North Athletic Complex
LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO

ROBERT MORRIS vs. LONGWOOD (1-1-0)
Sunday, Sept. 15 at 1 p.m.
North Athletic Complex
LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO

LAST WEEK
Robert Morris couldn't get it going away from home, falling 4-0 at Cleveland State last Wednesday and 3-1 at La Salle three days later. In the latter matchup, senior center back Christopher Coridon scored his second career goal by converting a corner kick setup by Cristian Palermo (pictured above).

KNOW BOBBY MO
• 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 matches one from 1991 for the longest in team annals. The friendly schedule comes to the forefront in non-conference play, as RMU will play just two of seven on the road before facing NEC opponents.

• Falling behind early has been a bugaboo so far. RMU trailed by multiple goals in the first half in its past two matches, including 2-0 at La Salle after 10 minutes of play. Ten of the 14 goals allowed by the Colonials this season have occurred before halftime, while the earliest goal they've scored has been in the 39th minute.

• The last time the Colonials started a season with four consecutive losses was 2017, when they dropped their first six and went their first nine (0-7-2) without a victory. However, that edition of the men's soccer team also went on to win three times in Northeast Conference play and qualify for the postseason tournament. 

• All-NEC Rookie Team pick Lorenzo Guagneli returns for his sophomore season after starting all 17 matches in 2018. The third Colonial ever to be so honored, Guagneli saw 1,490 minutes in the defensive midfield and went the distance in 10 fixtures as a freshman. On the attack, the native of Cesenatico, Italy, earned an assist and fired 19 total shots toward goal last year.

• Since RMU returns just three goals from last year, new attackers will need to assist sophomore midfielder Palermo (17 starts in 2018) and senior forward Christian Coridon. The defense has more certainty, with Guagneli playing in front of returning backs Oeyvind Skjesol (17 starts in 2018) and Christopher Coridon (12 appearances, six starts). 

• Goalie is a position of interest to start the season, with two Pittsburgh-area newcomers augmenting the presence of senior Canon-McMillan grad Snatchko Glorioso comes to Moon Township by way of Gardner-Webb and North Allegheny High School, while freshman Mike Zolnierczyk was the 2018 WPIAL Class A player of the year at Springdale. All three men have started one game so far.

• The Colonials welcome seven newcomers, three of those from the Pittsburgh region. Sophomores Nick Williams and 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.

• Two WPIAL products figure to patrol the wings for the Colonials, with senior Noah Elamin and junior Matt Cillo providing valuable varsity experience. Elamin, a graduate of Shaler Area, started 12 games last season and appeared in 14 overall; Cillo, out of South Fayette, started 15 times in 2018, seeing the finish line in 10 of those.

• 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 14-18-4 record against league foes since the 2014 campaign.

HISTORY LESSON
While the Colonials have never tangled with California Baptist, there's one previous meeting in the record books against Longwood. RMU fell 3-2 to the Lancers last September in Farmville, Virginia, on a 66th-minute goal by Abando. Seniors Zac Sherman and Owen Pearce scored first-half goals for the Colonials to erase an early deficit, but the Lancers picked up a pair after the break.

OPPOSITION RESEARCH
California Baptist is a relative newcomer to Division I athletics, as it competes in its second season in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). Coe Michaelson's squad has actually outscored its opponents 6-4 despite owning just one win, 4-0 at Purdue Fort Wayne. Junior forward Tete Vacas has two goals and two assists to lead the Lancers attack, while senior keeper Albert Escuin boasts an .810 save percentage in four starts.

Longwood will take on VMI on Wednesday before completing its week in Moon Township. The Lancers (yes, both opponents this week share the rare nickname) beat Howard, 3-0, in their season opener behind a two-goal effort by senior forward Mikel Abando. Longwood returned to the Big South tournament last season for 13th-year head coach Jon Atkinson, but still had a sub-.500 record overall and in league action.

FILM STUDY
"Right when the whistle blows, we have to be more switched on. Focused right from the beginning." - Christopher Coridon on how to address the first-half difficulties

Watch his full interview with Matt Gajtka here:



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 'Speedy' 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 will tackle another two-match week when they host local rival Duquesne (Wednesday, Sept. 18) and Howard (Sunday, Sept. 22).