MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – Robert Morris (5-3) officially kicks off its 13th season in the NEC this Saturday as it hosts Detroit Mercy (1-5) at Joe Walton Stadium. The matchup features a 1 p.m. faceoff between two programs that recently battled for the conference title, with the Colonials entering the game on a four-game winning streak. Fans unable to attend in person can stream the action live on NEC Front Row, featuring Adam Gusky on the call.
 
RMU LATELY
Robert Morris enters conference play with significant momentum, carrying a four-game winning streak that dates back to February 20. Its most recent success came in a hard-fought 14-11 home victory against Bellarmine, fueled by Dylan Anderson, who is currently tied for third in the NEC with 21 points. The Colonials' defense has been equally dominant, led by Owen Tapper, the reigning NEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week and a USILA Team of the Week selection, who leads the conference with 2.38 caused turnovers per match. Anchoring the unit is goalkeeper Nate Fechter, who ranks fourth in the NEC with 11.71 saves per match and maintains a solid .514 save percentage.
 
DETROIT MERCY LATELY   
Detroit Mercy enters the NEC opener looking to snap a three-game losing streak and ignite an offense that is currently tied for the fewest goals in the conference (47). While the team has struggled to find the back of the net, its defense remains a high point, led by goalkeeper Cooper St. Clair, who ranks second in the NEC with an impressive 17.17 saves per match. On the field, the Titans feature two other statistical leaders: defender Kyle Grant, who sits just behind RMU's Tapper with 2.17 caused turnovers per game, and faceoff specialist Canton Lanham, who is second in the league with 6.0 ground balls per contest.
 
RMU AND DETROIT MERCY HISTORY            
The series history between these two programs leans heavily in favor of Robert Morris, with the Colonials holding a dominant 11-2 all-time lead since the rivalry began in 2009. This advantage is even more pronounced at Joe Walton Stadium, where RMU remains a perfect 6-0 against the Titans in Moon Township. While they are now competing under the NEC banner as of 2025, the two teams share a recent history as conference rivals in the ASUN, where they competed together from 2022 to 2024.
 
RMU AND DETROIT MERCY LAST TIME         
In their most recent clash on May 3, 2025, Robert Morris captured the Northeast Conference Championship with a dominant 17-8 victory over Detroit Mercy at Ted Grant Field in Syracuse, NY. The Colonials effectively put the game away early by scoring ten unanswered goals after the Titans opened the scoring just a minute in. Calum Brennan led the RMU offensive explosion with four goals, while Nick Pelletier chipped in two goals and three assists to help secure the title and a season sweep over Detroit Mercy.
 
RMU IN NEC OPENERS      
The Colonials hold a 6-5 all-time record in NEC openers (the 2020 season was canceled prior to conference play).

COMMON OPPONENTS
Outside of the NEC, Robert Morris and Detroit Mercy shared Bellarmine as a common opponent during the non-conference slate. Robert Morris was a 14-11 winner over the Knights on March 7, while Detroit Mercy fell to Bellarmine 16-9 on February 21.
 
UP NEXT
RMU travels on Cleveland State next Saturday, March 21 for a 2 p.m. faceoff.
 
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