Men's Soccer | 9/6/2019 1:07:00 PM

MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- On the back end of a two-match road swing, the Robert Morris University men's soccer team continues its drive for a victory on the opposite end of the state, taking on La Salle on Saturday afternoon in Philadelphia.

ROBERT MORRIS (0-3-0)
at LA SALLE (1-1-0)
Saturday, Sept. 7 at 3 p.m.
McCarthy Stadium, Philadelphia
LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO ($)

LAST GAME
Robert Morris was blanked for the second time this season, falling 4-0 at frequent non-conference foe Cleveland State on Wednesday night. Senior goalie Christian Snatchko made his season debut, stopping three shots. The Colonials fell behind 3-0 at the half for the second time in three games, making a comeback unlikely.

KNOW BOBBY MO
• The last time the Colonials started a season with three 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 (pictured above) 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 Cristian Palermo (17 starts in 2018) and senior forward Christian Coridon, who has the Colonials' lone goal of 2019 via penalty kick. 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.

• 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. 12-19. That homestand matches one from 1991 for the longest in team annals. The friendly schedule comes to the forefront the most in non-conference play, as RMU will play just two of seven on the road before facing NEC opponents.

• 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.

OPPOSITION RESEARCH
La Salle has split its first two matches of the year, downing Iona 2-1 in its opener before losing 3-0 to RMU conference rival St. Francis Brooklyn. Senior midfielder Pat McCarthy matched last season's goal total with the game-winner against Iona. Fourth-year head coach Rob Irvine will try to turn his Explorers around after a winless 2018 in Atlantic 10 play.

HISTORY LESSON
The Colonials broke out of an 0-5-1 start last September when they downed La Salle 1-0 in Moon Township. Goalkeeper Winter Fondi '19 denied three shots in the shutout, which leveled the all-time series between the programs. Back in 2009, the Explorers picked up a 4-0 road win in the only other previous meeting with the Colonials.

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 UP
The Colonials begin a six-match homestand at the North Athletic Complex with a matchup against Division I newcomer California Baptist next Thursday, Sept. 12. Kickoff against the WAC's Lancers is set for 4 p.m.