MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – Top-seeded Robert Morris (13-3, 7-0 NEC) continues its quest for a second consecutive conference crown as it hosts LIU (11-3, 5-2 NEC) in the 2026 NEC Championship game this Saturday, May 2. The Colonials and Sharks are set for a 4 p.m. faceoff at Joe Walton Stadium, with the championship clash streaming live on ESPN+. Jack Ridenour will provide the play-by-play alongside analysis from Damen McDermott.
DYLAN DOMINATES
Dylan Anderson put together a performance for the record books, taking home NEC Player of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, and Rookie of the Year honors. Anderson becomes the first player in league history to claim all three awards simultaneously. He is the fifth player in program history to be named NEC Player of the Year, joining
Bo Columbus (2025), Tyson Gibson (2019), Kiel Matisz (2012), and Trevor Moore (2010, 2011). Anderson stands as the first freshman in NEC history to earn Player of the Year honors and is the first RMU player to be named Rookie of the Year. Additionally, he is the second Colonial to be named Offensive Player of the Year, following
David Burr (2025).
TERRIFIC TAPPER
Owen Tapper earns the distinction of being the second Colonial named Defensive Player of the Year, joining Zach Bryant (2018). His selection to the First Team marks the second consecutive year Tapper has received All-Conference honors.
COACH OF THE YEAR
After leading RMU to the program's first outright regular-season title since 2012,
Craig McDonald was named the NEC Coach of the Year. This accolade serves as McDonald's first NEC Coach of the Year award and the third overall for the program, joining Andrew McMinn (2012, 2017).
EVEN MORE NEC HONORS
In addition to the major awards, nine Colonials were recognized across the All-Conference lists. The NEC First Team was headlined by Anderson and Tapper, who were joined by
Ben Eck,
Nate Fechter,
Elijah Edwards, and
Nathan Ruff.
The NEC Second Team featured three more RMU standouts in
Calum Brennan,
Joel McCormick, and
Liam Blakely. Anderson also earned a spot on the NEC All-Rookie Team alongside teammate
Koerner Marechek.
RMU LATELY
RMU enters the title game having extended its program-record winning streak to 12 games following a 12-5 semifinal victory over VMI. The Colonials displayed a balanced attack with nine different players scoring, led by two-goal performances from
Graeme MacLennan, Brennan, and
Tommy Linehan. Defensively, Fechter anchored the effort by setting a new RMU record for an NEC Championship match with 18 saves.
LIU LATELY
The Sharks enter the championship final with momentum following a 15-14 overtime victory against Cleveland State on Thursday night. Aidan Zuhoski led LIU with five goals, including the game-winner, while Cameron Connolly, Ben Schuster, and Koen Block each added a pair of tallies. The squad's postseason run is bolstered by significant league recognition, as Connolly, Zuhoski, Shaun Hill, and Ben McIsaac were all named NEC First Team selections. Rounding out the honors, Ryan Fountain earned Second Team status, while Antonio Ciolfi and Jack Whitehouse were named to the NEC All-Rookie Team.
RMU AND LIU HISTORY
The Colonials now hold a 3-0 lead in the all-time series against the Sharks after securing a 14-10 victory at Joe Walton Stadium on April 18. RMU first defeated LIU 13-9 during a regular-season trip to Brookville, N.Y., in 2025. The teams met again later that year in the NEC Championship semifinals in Syracuse, where the Colonials secured a thrilling 12-11 victory in overtime. While the programs had a match scheduled for March 2020, it was canceled due to the pandemic, making this season's meeting the first completed contest between the two at Joe Walton Stadium.
RMU AND LIU LAST TIME
The Colonials clinched the NEC regular-season title on April 18 with a 14–10 triumph over the Sharks, securing the program's first outright conference championship since 2012. The win improved RMU to 11-3 (6-0 NEC) and pushed its winning streak to 10 games.
The Colonials capitalized on their special teams units, converting three of four man-up opportunities. Anderson, Eck, and MacLennan each found the back of the net twice, with MacLennan chipping in two assists and
Tommy Gallagher netting the game-winner.
Luis Gonzalez facilitated the attack with three assists, while
Brady Carver provided a massive spark off the bench with a career-high 10 saves.
Zuhoski paced LIU with a four-point afternoon, including a hat trick, while McIsaac and Schuster each scored twice. Hill went 11-of-21 at the faceoff dot, and Brayden Wilcken turned away 12 shots in the loss for the Sharks.
COMMON OPPONENTS
Outside of NEC play, the only common opponent for both programs was Bellarmine. RMU defeated the Knights 14-11 on February 22, while the Sharks secured a 15-7 victory against them on March 1.
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