GAME 9
RMU (4-4 / 1-2 #ASUNMLAX) @ Mercer (3-7 / 2-2 #ASUNMLAX)
Saturday, April 1 | 11:00 a.m.
Five Star Stadium (10,200) | Macon, Ga.
 
TV: ESPN+
Talent: Tyler Springs (pxp)
Twitter: @RMUMLacrosse | Instagram: rmumlacrosse
 
Opening Face-Off

• The RMU men's lacrosse team goes down south to take on the Mercer Bears in another conference match-up on Saturday, April 1^st at 11:00 a.m.
• Last time out, the Colonials fell to Detroit Mercy at Titan Field, making their record 2-2 in conference play.
• Against the Titans, Taggart Clark recorded his 14^th career hat trick and also added one assist for a four-point game.
• Before playing Detroit, RMU won their first ASUN game of the season, beating Cleveland State, 11-6 at Joe Walton Stadium.
• Leading the team in points for the Colonials was midfielder Colton Lidstone. He paced for two goals and two assists. In his last two outings against the Vikings, Lidstone has produced four goals and four assists.
• The defense joined the offense against the Vikings, as defensemen James Christoforatos paced for two goals and one helper, and James Leary scored one goal and one assist. Both players scooped up four ground balls each.
• Freshman Rowan Hynes scored his first career goal against Cleveland State, picked up three ground balls and caused one turnover.
• In goal, sophomore Nate Randall made 12 saves at Detroit and then tied his career-high in saves with 16 against Cleveland State.
• Head coach Craig McDonald now owns a 14-10 overall record at RMU, and is 5-3 in conference play.

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


The All-Time Series (Mercer) – The Colonials have only played Mercer on two occasions in program history, but have won both meetings. RMU has only played Mercer at their field, and will be doing so for a third time come Saturday.
 
Last season when these teams met, playing in the ASUN conference for the first time, RMU won, 13-11. In that game, future NLL players Taggart Clark and Will Johansen both produced a goal and assist each. Eric Swagerty paced for two assists. Up top, Ben Starkey scored one goal and, in the midfield, Colton Lidstone earned an assist. Current Colonials James Leary and Johnny Chaisson both sniped one goal each. In the face-off circle, Bo Columbus won 14-of-24 face-off's and scooped up a team-high ten ground balls. Nate Randall was in net against the Bears and stopped seven shots and picked up five loose balls.
 
The first time these programs squared off was in 2016, before both sides had entered the ASUN conference. In that season, associate head coach Adrian Torok-Orban was a sophomore. He led the team in points against the Bears, scoring a hat trick and also dishing out the game-winning assist to beat the Bears, 11-10 in overtime.
 
Scouting the Bears – So far, in the 2023 campaign, the Bears are 3-7 overall and 2-2 in conference. Mercer have picked up wins against Holy Cross and conference members Detroit Mercy and Bellarmine. In ten games, the Bears are averaging 9.7 goals per game, and giving up 14.7 goals a game. They have a 34.7% conversion rate on the man-advantage, going 17-for-49. On clears, they've converted 79.8%.
 
Leading the team in points is senior Parker Junrod. He's scored 21 goals and 11 assists in ten games. Also, providing more help offensively for Mercer has been freshman Michael Frederick, scoring 14 goals and eight assists. On face-off's, Ashton Wood has taken 229 and has won 144 (.629%). Defensively, Wesley Chairs owns a team-high 13 caused turnovers. And, in net, a senior from Ellicott City, Md., Colin Kellley has made 107 saves for the Bears, owning a .431 save percentage and a 3-7 overall record in goal.
 
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