GAME 3
RMU (2-0 / 0-0 #ASUNMLAX) vs. CANISIUS (0-3 / 0-0 #MAACMLAX)
Saturday, February 26 | 4:00 p.m.
Demske Sports Complex (1,200) | Buffalo, N.Y.
 
Twitter: @RMUMLacrosse
Instagram: rmumlacrosse
 
Opening Face-Off

• RMU men's lacrosse head back out on the road to face the Golden Griffins of Canisius up north on Saturday afternoon.
• In RMU's home opener, the team put together an impressive performance on both sides of the field, beating St. Bonaventure 15-6.
• David Burr was the man of the match against the Bonnies, producing a five-point game on the day (3 goals, 2 assists).
• Taggart Clark, Ben Starkey and Kean Moon all tallied a brace at Joe Walton Stadium. Clark also picked up four ground balls and caused two turnovers.
• Junior Eric Swagerty scored a goal and added three assists this past game. And, fifth-year Johnny Chaisson scooped up a team-high five ground balls.
• In net for the Colonials, Nate Randall made 12 more saves. Junior transfer Kyle Reihner made his first two saves in a Colonial uniform against the Bonnies.
• Going back to the first game of the season, RMU beat Bucknell in Lewisburg, Pa., by a score of 12-9.
• Canadian forward Nick Pelletier opened up the season, scoring four goals on four shots. Will Johansen scored two and passed out an assist.
• Randall stopped a career-high 16 saves and face-off specialist Steven DelleMonache won a career-high 15 face-offs.
• Head coach Craig McDonald now owns a 12-6 overall record and remains 4-1 in the ASUN.
• Fifth-year defenseman Owen Down was selected to the ASUN 2023 Preseason All-Conference Team.
• According to a poll done by ASUN head coaches, the RMU men's lacrosse team was tabbed to finish third in the conference in 2023.

CANISIUS LINKS
- Live Stats
- Video
- RMU Athletics Gameday App 

The All-Time Series (Canisius) – Come tomorrow, this will be the 15^th time both programs meet. All-time, RMU is 9-5 against the Golden Griffins, including 4-3 at home and 5-2 on the road. The Colonials have won nine out of the last ten when facing Canisius, dating back to April of 2010. In the past 10 meetings, RMU has outscored Canisius, 149-83.
 
In his first game as bench boss against Canisius, head coach Craig McDonald earned a 23-6 victory (3/9/22). Many players returning to the roster in 2023 had big games almost a year ago, hosting the Golden Griffins. Taggart Clark scored four goals, Ben Starkey recorded a hat trick, Will Johansen registered a four-point game (one goal, three assists) and Colton Lidstone dished out three assists. On the draw, Bo Columbus went 10-for-16 on face-offs and James Leary recorded a team-high five ground balls.
 
Dating back two years ago, Clark scored a hat trick in a 22-10 win vs. Canisius (2/15/20). In two games, Clark has scored seven goals against the Golden Griffins.
 
Scouting the Golden Griffins – Through three games, Canisius has yet to win a game, dropping losses to Hobart, Bellarmine and Michigan. For the Golden Griffins, Colin Kelly is currently the team leader in points, scoring eight goals and one assist. Kevin Carney is right behind him with four goals and three assists. Their face-off specialist Micah Hanson has won 35 face-offs on 84 total draws through three games. In net, Tommy Kunz has made 42 saves with a .452 save percentage. As a team, Canisius is averaging 8.67 goals per game.
 
Canisius's program started back in 1990. The school entered in the MAAC conference in 1996 for lacrosse. In RMU's history, they've faced current MAAC opponents 75 total times and have won 51 games (.680).
 
STRONG START
So far in the 2023 season, RMU remains the only unbeaten team in the ASUN conference. With a third win in a row to start the season, the Colonials would tie their second-best start to a season as they began 3-0 back in 2012. The Colonials 11 years ago beat Bellarmine, UMBC and Air Force to open the season. The best start in program history came back in 2010, as they won their first five tilts, earning victories against Penn State, Manhattan, VMI, Ohio State and Detroit Mercy.
 
ASUN
2023 is the second season for the Colonials in the ASUN Conference. RMU from 2006-2020 competed in the NEC where they saw success in the form of three conference championships in 2012, 2018 and 2019. In back-to-back years in the 2018-19 season, the Colonials achieved NCAA Tournament appearances. After playing unattached in 2021, RMU men's lacrosse joined the ASUN and won the conference's first ever championship this past season.

SCHEDULE CHANGE
Due to icy conditions created by the winter storm this week that impacted the Western New York region, the men's lacrosse game between Robert Morris and Canisius has been moved to Sunday at 4:00 p.m. 

The game will be played at the Demske Sports Complex but, out of an abundance of caution, the Canisius Athletic Department has determined that fans will NOT be permitted within the facility during the game. 

The contest will be streamed live for free on the Golden Griffin Broadcast Network. 

For all the latest updates on Robert Morris men's lacrosse, be sure to follow @RMUMLacrosse on Twitter and Instagram. 

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