PITTSBURGH, Pa. - The Robert Morris University men's soccer team kicks off the 2021 Horizon League campaign this weekend when they head to Kentucky for a showdown with the NKU Norse.
Robert Morris (0-3-0, 0-0-0 Horizon League) vs. Northern Kentucky (2-2-0, 0-0-0 Horizon League)
Saturday, September 11 at 7:00 p.m. in Highland Heights, Ky.
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LAST TIME OUT
Robert Morris is coming off of a 3-0 loss on the road at the hands of the Akron Zips a week ago.
While RMU managed to hold the Zips scoreless for the first 51 minutes of action last Saturday, three second half goals helped lift them to a 3-0 victory over the Colonials in Akron.
STATS TO KNOW
The Colonials keeper trio of Mike Zolnierczyk, Grant Glorioso and Friedrich Petrelli have combined to share the workload so far in 2021, as RMU's 17 total saves is the second most of any squad in the Horizon League.
Each has started one game so far, with Petrelli's nine-save performance in the Colonials OT loss to Duquesne currently the high-water mark for stops.
Offensively, Nathaniel David has been RMU's most prolific shooter, currently ranked eighth overall in the HL in shots per game at 2.50.
TEAM LEADERS
Gal Ben Dayan and Owen Jowett are currently tied for the team lead in goals with one apiece, while Hugo Kadima leads the pack with one assist.
Seven Colonials have started all three games so far for RMU, with Nathaniel David leading the squad in total shots with five.
SCOUTING THE NORSE
Picked to finish fourth overall in the Preseason Coach's Poll, Northern Kentucky enters the 2021 Fall Horizon League campaign as defending regular season champions following its 7-1 run through the conference a year ago that included a 2-0 win over the Colonials in March.
NKU boasted one of the stingiest defenses in the country last year, ranking 13th in save percentage (.837) and 23rd in goals against average (.748) nationally, helped in large part by reigning Horizon League Goalkeeper of the Year Daniel Bermingham.
Offensively, forward and 2021 All-Horizon League First Team honoree Dylan Bufton makes his return after leading his squad in scoring a year ago, as does second-ranked Sam Robinson.
NEXT UP
The Colonials return home for a pair at the North Athletic Complex next week, hosting Xavier on Wednesday, September 15 and Milwaukee on Saturday, September 18.
