SMITHFIELD, R.I.– After winning their last four games, the Robert Morris men’s lacrosse team (5-7, 2-2 NEC) is back in action on Saturday as they travel to Rhode Island to take on the Bryant Bulldogs (3-9, 1-4 NEC).

This will be the Colonials second to last NEC game, facing Hobart on April 27 at Joe Walton Stadium. In 11 career games against the Bulldogs, the Colonials hold a 2-9 record, however, they won the last meeting by a score of 12-5.

Recapping RMU

Over their past four games, the Colonials have strung together four wins. They last played on April 13, in a game against Cleveland State. The Colonials won the game by a margin of 13-8. Alex Heger made 12 saves, while both Tyson Gibson and Jake Boudreau added hat tricks in the win.

On the year, the Colonials are a high scoring offense, as they are third in the NEC, averaging 13.25 goals per game. The Colonials also have a 29.9 shot percentage, the highest in the NEC, and they are tied with the North Carolina Tar Heels for the 29th best in the NCAA.

Previewing Bryant

In the Bulldogs’ last game, they traveled to Geneva, New York to take on the Hobart Statesmen. The Bulldogs would lose their second in a row in this one by a score of 12-11. Kevin Beimfohr made 15 saves in net, while Austin Kent, Nick Beeson and Zach Coffey each had two goals in the loss.

This season, Bryant has struggled to find the back of the net, only scoring 8.67 goals per game, second to last in the conference. To counter this, however, there is the Bulldogs’ defense, allowing only 9.47 goals per game, a stat that places them top in the NEC, and top 10 in the entire NCAA.

Players to Watch

Corson Kealey (RMU): The sophomore from Ottawa, Ontario has been a complete scoring threat over the course of the 2019 season for Robert Morris. He is tied for the lead in points with 44 and leads the team with 36 goals. Kealey’s average of three goals per game is tied with Joe Saggese for best in the NEC, and 12th best in the NCAA.

Tyson Gibson (RMU): With Kealey scoring as often as he does, someone must be dishing him the ball; and that someone is Tyson Gibson. As a senior from Maple, Ontario, Gibson has 22 goals and 22 assists on the year, good enough to tie for the team lead in points. Gibson’s 1.83 assists per game are third in the NEC and tied for 29th in the NCAA.

Luke Caracciolo (BRY): A solid force in net for the Bulldogs, Caracciolo has proven he can keep Bryant in games. Caracciolo currently sports a 9.66 goals against average and a 56.9% save percentage, both of which put him at the top of the NEC, and top-15 in the NCAA.

Jack Aigner (BRY): Aigner, a redshirt freshman from Brighton, Michigan has quickly become one of the top faceoff takers in the NEC. His 58.3 winning percentage is top on the Bulldogs, eighth best in the conference, and 24th best in the NCAA.

Prediction

This will be a close game, no doubt. However, I believe that the Colonials will edge out the Bulldogs in this one, with a final score of 10-7. Luke Caracciolo will make 16 saves in net for Bryant, however, Corson Kealey will score four goals in the Robert Morris victory.