Charlotte, N.C. – RMU gets back to a .500 overall record (6-6), with a 14-10 win at Queens University. The Colonials are now 3-4 in conference play. Queens is 2-10 on the year and 1-6 in the ASUN.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
In the opening quarter, junior
Steven DelleMonache continued where he left off from last game by winning the first face-off and scooping up the ground ball. Vitally winning the first draw of the game, RMU entered the offensive zone and
David Burr ripped in his 20
th goal of the season off their first possession in enemy territory. Going the other way, the Royals also scored on their first possession of the game. Immediately after, DelleMonache repeated, and
Ben Starkey shot in his 11
th of the campaign. After that, Queens popped up with three more goals to take a 4-2 lead.
The second quarter is when RMU's offense exploded. A six-goal second quarter would be a deciding factor in the result.
Eric Swagerty and
David Burr both scored, and captains
Elliot Holden and
Colton Lidstone both scored a brace in the second period. RMU's defense was also visibly on display, as the team only gave up one goal that quarter.
Nate Randall made five saves on six shots and Queens turned the ball over four times. The Colonials were on top, 8-5 at half.
Entering the second half,
David Burr completed his hat trick off a man-up opportunity to add to the teams lead. In a quarter with only four total goals, RMU scored three of them. Fifth-year attacker
Taggart Clark and
Elliot Holden also produced. The Colonials took a commanding 11-6 advantage.
With another victory in reach, the Colonials cleaned up shop in the fourth quarter.
Will Johansen hurled in a heater on the power play two minutes into the final frame. Junior
Liam Keane put the game on ice as he knotted in his 13
th and 14
th tallies of the season. In the end, the Colonials were victorious, winning 14-10, and beat the Royals in the programs first ever match-up.
HOLDEN'S CAREER DAY
Against Queens,
Elliot Holden performed a six-point game, scoring three goals and three assists. The last time Holden posted six points was his freshman year in 2020 against Detroit Mercy. Holden in that game scored five goals and added one assist in a 16-13 win over the Titans (3/4/20). With that performance, he was awarded NEC Rookie of the Week. The senior captain led the team in points today at his home state of North Carolina, scored the game-winning goal and picked up two ground balls. During the 2023 campaign, Holden has already eclipsed his career-highs in goals and assists with 13 and 11.
I GOT MY SWAGGER BACK
In seven out of eight games that
Eric Swagerty has played, the Virginia native has posted points for the Colonials. Facing the Royals, Swagerty picked up another two-point game after scoring a hat trick last game vs. Bellarmine. The attacker has produced ten goals, five assists and 15 points so far this year, and is three points away from passing his production last year in half as many games.
DRAW MASTER
After recording a career-high in ground balls against Bellarmine (4/12/23), junior
Steven DelleMonache passed his previous best, scooping up 14 against the Royals. DelleMonache also won 15 face-off's, tying his second-best this season.
DEFENSE FIRST
For the eighth time this season, sophomore goalkeeper
Nate Randall reached double-digits in saves. Randall was a force in keeping the Colonials in the lead while the offense exploded during the second and third quarters. During those two periods, Randall made most of his saves with eight. On the year, the Michigan native has posted 113 saves, eclipsing his 112 saves during his freshman campaign.
Defensively for the Colonials,
Owen Down led the team in caused turnovers with three and scooped up one ground ball.
Johnny Chaisson and freshman
Liam Blakely also caused one turnover and picked up one ground ball each. In five games this year, RMU has held the opposition to 10 goals or less.
THE BIG 3
Producing all year hasn't stopped for forwards
David Burr,
Taggart Clark and
Liam Keane. Against the Royals, all three posted big games once again. After being featured on SportsCenter Top 10, Burr added four more points vs. Queens. Six times this season, Burr has produced four or more points.
Liam Keane continued his point streak to nine games this year, scoring two goals and dishing out one assist. On the day, Clark scored one goal and two helpers, pushing his season totals to 24 goals and 15 assists, equaling 39 points.
UP NEXT
The Colonials come back home next week for their final home game of the regular season. They'll play Lindenwood on Saturday, April 22
nd at 1:00 p.m. Saturday's game will be Senior Day.
Follow The Colonials: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn | RMU Athletics Gameday App
