Men's Soccer | 9/26/2019 10:25:00 AM

MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- The Robert Morris University men's soccer team begins its nine-match Northeast Conference schedule with a pair of home matches this weekend against league rivals, with both taking place at the friendly confines of the North Athletic Complex.

ROBERT MORRIS (1-6-1) vs. MOUNT ST. MARY'S (3-3-0)
Friday, Sept. 27 at 3:30 p.m.
LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO

ROBERT MORRIS vs. FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON (4-3-0)
Sunday, Sept. 29 at 3:30 p.m.
LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO

LAST WEEK
After falling 2-0 to Duquesne last Wednesday in the rivals' annual derby match, the Colonials rallied for a 1-1 draw against frequent non-conference foe Howard on Sunday afternoon at the North Athletic Complex. Junior midfielder Matt Cillo deposited his first NCAA goal in the come-from-behind result, which was backstopped by freshman keeper Mike Zolnierczyk (three saves).

KNOW BOBBY MO
• Slow starts haven't doomed RMU in the recent past. Last year, the Colonials went six (0-5-1) without a win, but still won four times in NEC play, barely missing 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.

• Falling behind early has been a bugaboo so far. RMU has trailed in all eight of its games so far, carrying a deficit into halftime five times. The Colonials have been outscored 12-2 before halftime, while the earliest goal they've gotten came in the 39th minute.

• 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.

• 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 came to the forefront in non-conference play, as RMU will played two of seven on the road before facing NEC opponents.

• Since RMU returned just three goals from last season, this year figured to be scoring by committee. As such, seven players have at least a point through eight games, and five have scored a goal. Senior forward Christian Coridon is the only Colonial to factor in on multiple tallies; the New Jersey native has a goal and an assist, plus a team-high 16 shots.

• Goalie is a position of interest this season, with two Pittsburgh-area newcomers augmenting the presence of senior Canon-McMillan grad Christian 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 at least two games so far.

• The RMU back line has been regularly manned by NCAA veterans. Senior Christopher Coridon and junior Oeyvind Skjesol have both started all eight games to date, matching sophomore midfielder Lorenzo Guagneli in that category. Two WPIAL products regularly patrol the wings: Senior Noah Elamin (Shaler Area) and junior Matt Cillo (South Fayette) have gotten seven starts each.

• The Colonials welcome seven newbies, 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.

HISTORY LESSON
The Colonials and Mount St. Mary's met last season for the first time since 2018, as the Mountaineers revived their program after lying dormant for five years. Last October, then-freshman Riccardo Rota polished off a rebound in the 87th minute to deliver a 2-1 win for RMU in Emmitsburg, Maryland. It was the Colonials' first win over the Mount since 2005.

Fairleigh Dickinson extended its unbeaten streak against the Colonials to three games last October in Teaneck, New Jersey, when the Knights prevailed in double overtime, 1-0. RMU has been shut out in two consecutive matchups with FDU, with Keane McIvor being the last Colonial to bulge the onion bag in the all-time series, forging a 1-1 tie three years ago.

OPPOSITION RESEARCH
Mount St. Mary's surged to a 3-0 start with wins over Winthrop, Bucknell and Howard, but Bryan Cunningham's Mountaineers haven't scored since in an ongoing three-match skid. Defender Boris Nana Tonzi and forward Yann Kouemi are tied for the team led with two goals apiece, while sophomore keeper Andrew Chwalik has started five of six matches to date, including the Mount's lone shutout of '19.

Fairleigh Dickinson has been up and down so far for 23rd-year coach Seth Roland. The Knights' high was a 2-1 win Sept. 6 at No. 22 UConn, but they are coming off a 4-0 home defeat to Princeton last Saturday. Junior Spanish forward Diego Arribas has been hot in the opening month of the season, piling up three goals and two assists. Junior keeper Jahmali Waite has played all but 45 minutes for FDU.

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 hit the road for the first time in four weeks when they challenge NEC newcomer Merrimack on Friday, Oct. 4, then wrap up the northeast excursion with Central Connecticut on Sunday, Oct. 6.