GAME 14
RMU (7-6 / 4-4 #ASUNMLAX) @ AF (9-5 / 6-2 #ASUNMLAX)
Saturday, April 29 | 1:00 p.m.
Falcon Lax Practice Facility | Colorado Springs, Colo.
 
TV: ESPN+
Twitter: @RMUMLacrosse | Instagram: rmumlacrosse
 
Opening Face-Off

• After winning three in a row, the Colonials are headed back out on the road to face Air Force on Saturday, April 29^th at 1:00 p.m.
• Last time out, RMU handled business, beating Lindenwood, 18-12 (4/22).
• Taggart Clark posted a seven-point game, scoring four goals along with three assists. He was then tabbed Player of the Week for the second time this season by the ASUN.
• Liam Keane, David Burr and Eric Swagerty all also posted hat tricks against the Lions.
• Defensively, Owen Down picked up six ground balls and caused two turnovers.
• In the face-off circle, Steven DelleMonache won 28-34 face-offs and picked up a career-high 17 ground balls.
• In their most recent away game, RMU beat Queens, 14-10 (4/15).
• Senior captain Elliot Holden had a career day, recording a hat trick and six points in his home state of North Carolina.
• On defense, freshman Liam Blakely caused a season-high four turnovers.
• Going back to the beginning of the win streak, the Colonials put up a season-high 21 goals against Bellarmine in a 21-13 victory (4/12).
• 16 different players registered a point against the Knights.
• In that game, Owen Down sniped in his first goal of the season, followed by Ryan Stiefel recording his first career goal and Bobby Reaume registering his first assist and point as a Colonial.
• Head coach Craig McDonald is now 17-12 overall at RMU, and owns an 8-5 record in ASUN play.

 
GAMEDAY LINKS
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The All-Time Series (Air Force) – In program history, the Colonials are 5-2 all-time against the Falcons. This series between the two teams started back in 2010. The only two losses for RMU came in the 2015 and 2016 season, losing by one goal each time. In those two games, Associated Head Coach Adrian Torok-Orban recorded three goals when he was a member of the team.
 
This past season in regular season play, the Colonials edged out Air Force in their first ASUN match-up. Winning 11-10, forwards and midfielders Taggart Clark, Torin Neal, Ben Starkey and Elliot Holden all posted two-point games. Later in the year, RMU played a rematch against the Falcons in the ASUN semifinals. The Colonials would be victorious again, winning 9-7 in Huntsville, Alabama. Eric Swagerty led the way with a three-point game. James Leary scooped up a team-high four ground balls and caused two turnovers. Midfielders Elliot Holden and Will Johansen were also crucial in the victory, scoring a goal and an assist each. Both players went on to make the ASUN All-Tournament Team, leading their squad to an ASUN Championship.
 
With a rich history between these two programs, Saturday's game will determine seeding in the ASUN tournament for both teams. The Colonials are riding a three-game win streak this season, and three wins in a row against the Falcons. All-time, RMU is out-scoring Air Force, 83-72. Every game has been decided by two goals or less, excluding the first two meetings, as the Colonials won by six and by three in the 2010 and 2012 seasons.
 
Scouting the Falcons – During the 2023 campaign, Air Force is 9-5 overall and 6-2 in conference play. Specifically, in ASUN games, their two losses are to Bellarmine and Utah. But, the Falcons are now riding a two-game hot streak with wins against Detroit Mercy and at Jacksonville. As a team, the Falcons are averaging 12.29 goals per game, and allowing 10.71 goals a game. On the man-advantage, Air Force has converted 14 times out of 33 chances (.424). On 321 clear attempts, they've successfully cleared into the offensive zone 289 times (.900).
 
The team's leading goal scorer and point getter is Brandon Dodd. He's compiled 37 goals and 27 assists, totaling 64 points. Second on the team in points is Ethan Grandolfo, posting 27 goals and 10 assists to this date. Air Force have used five different players in the face-off circle, which is the most any opponent has deployed that the Colonials have come across. Overall, they're winning face-offs at a .402-win percentage. Defensively, outside of face-off specialists, Jason Rose has scooped up the most ground balls with 37. He's also the team's starting goalie, owning a 9-5 record with 147 saves and a .518 save percentage.
 
EXPECTED GOALS ADDED
During this three-game win streak, the Colonials have had consistent efforts from everyone, including junior face-off specialist Steven DelleMonache. In the past three games, he's scooped up 44 ground balls, including a career-high 17 vs. Lindenwood. Across the past three outings, the New Jersey native has won 66 face-offs', owning a .695-win percentage on draws. According to LacrosseReference, in Week 12 of the season, DelleMonache ranked sixth in the nation in all of Division I, in "Expected Goals Added." His average against Bellarmine was 6.04. This past outing in Week 13, DelleMonache moved up to being ranked fourth across Division I in EGA, with an average of 6.90. On the year, he's won 161 face-offs and picked up 84 ground balls.
 
SHARPSHOOTER
After last week's win against Lindenwood, fifth-year attacker Taggart Clark entered uncharted territory across the league. Clark is officially now one of 15 players across the country that are on a 15-game goal streak. This streak began near the end of the 2022 season, in the ASUN Championship game vs. Utah when Clark posted four goals and a seven-point game. During the past 15 games, he's averaging just over two goals per game, with 33 goals and 23 assists, totaling 56 points. With Clark's consistent production this season, he's eclipsed 100 career points, reaching 121 points and six game winning goals.
 
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