Buffalo, N.Y. – The Robert Morris men's lacrosse team picked up another win, 13-8 at Canisius College. With a 3-0 start to the 2023 season, RMU stays at the top of the ASUN standings in first place. The Canisius Golden Griffins are now 0-4 in the 2023 campaign.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
In the opening frame, the contest was low scoring but in favor of the visiting Colonials. The score was 2-0 RMU, after the first 15 minutes. Both plays involved 2022 NLL Draft picks, with both goals scored by
Taggart Clark and an assist by
Matt Duncan on the first goal, and an assist by
Will Johansen on the second.
The second period was a balanced effort as both programs scored four goals. RMU got out to a 4-0 lead early in the second quarter with goals scored by
David Burr and senior
Ben Starkey. Canisius returned with three in a row, but with two minutes remaining Johansen and Clark each tallied another goal. At the end of the first half, RMU was up 6-4.
37 seconds into the second half,
Eric Swagerty scored an unassisted goal to make it 7-4. Determined to advance their lead, RMU scored five unanswered in the third quarter, making it 11-4. With about a minute left in the third quarter, Clark picked up another goal, this time with the man-up advantage to close out the period ahead, 12-5.
The Colonials gave up three goals in the last quarter, but secured the victory in Buffalo.
Connor Boss scored the last goal of the game, assisted by
Colton Lidstone and the Colonials went on to win 13-8.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Today was a big day for fifth-year
Taggart Clark, as the Ontario native picked up seven points on the day, including five goals.
David Burr picked up right where he left off last game and scored another hat trick and added another assist against the Golden Griffins.
Ben Starkey scored a brace and
Will Johansen,
Eric Swagerty and
Connor Boss all produced a goal.
Zach Seppi went 11-for-20 on draw's and picked up seven ground balls.
Eric Swagerty and
Matt Duncan also scooped up four ground balls. Defensively,
Nate Randall played all 60 minutes in net and made 10 saves. He now owns a flawless record in net with a 3-0 record to begin the season.
Liam Blakely on defense caused a team-high two turnovers on the day.
The Colonials out shot their opposition 47-34. Ground balls were even at 37 a piece. Both teams were 1-for-4 on extra man opportunities.
SCORING SPREE
Through three games in the 2023 season, RMU has scored five or more unanswered goals on four different occasions. Against Bucknell, the squad scored five in a row twice, winning 12-9 (2/11). In the home opener vs. St. Bonaventure, the Colonials scored six in a row in the first half, and went on to win 15-6 (2/21). And, against Canisius, RMU picked up five in a row in the third quarter.
CONSISTENCY IS KEY
Fifth-year
Taggart Clark produced a seven-point game against the Golden Griffins. This was the second most points he's produced in one single game. Last season on April 30
th of 2022, Clark posted eight points in a 19-12 win at Cleveland State. Dating back to the first game of the 2022 campaign at Duke (2/4/22), Clark has gone 19 games in a row registering a point. In those 19 games, Clark has started all of them, and has produced 56 goals and 20 assists. Throughout his career for the Colonials he's tallied 64 goals, 22 assists and four game winning goals in 40 career games.
RICH HISTORY
The Colonials are now 10-5 all-time against the Golden Griffins of Buffalo, N.Y. RMU is 6-2 on the road. In the past 11 games, RMU has won 10 against Canisius. In those past 11 meetings, RMU has outscored Canisius, 162-91.
UP NEXT
The Colonials up next will return to Joe Walton Stadium, to take on Hobart College on Saturday, March 4
th at 12:00 p.m.
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