Robert Morris and Saint Francis Renew Rivalry at UPMC Events Center This Season

Saint+Francis+will+travel+to+the+UPMC+Events+Center+on+Dec.+21+to+continue+their+season+series+with+one+another.+Photo+credit%3A+Nathan+Breisinger

Saint Francis will travel to the UPMC Events Center on Dec. 21 to continue their season series with one another. Photo credit: Nathan Breisinger

Ethan Morrison

Robert Morris has another non-conference game added to their schedule as they will once again take on their former Northeast Conference foe Saint Francis on Dec. 21 at the UPMC Events Center.

After Robert Morris left for the Horizon League during the 2020 offseason, the hotly contested rivalry between the two schools which sat just two hours apart was in jeopardy.

But in an interview with Pittsburgh Sports Now in 2020, Red Flash head coach Rob Krimmel that both sides were interested in continuing the season series,

“As long as I’m the coach here and as long as Andy’s the coach there, I think we’ll be able to play that game,” Krimmel said. “It’s something that I think our guys will get excited for and his guys will get excited for. At least we know we have one game scheduled each year. That’s one less thing we have to do.”

The game was canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19 but they renewed their rivalry last season.

These two teams faced off against one another last season in the Colonials final non-conference matchup of the season in Loretto with Robert Morris taking that game by a final score of 75-67.

Enoch Cheeks sets up on defense at DelGol arena in Robert Morris' game against Saint Francis in December 2021.
Enoch Cheeks sets up on defense at DelGol arena in Robert Morris’ game against Saint Francis in December 2021. Photo credit: Nathan Breisinger

The Colonials have won the last three meetings against Saint Francis including the 2020 NEC Championship Game but not long before that, Saint Francis dominated Robert Morris through the better part of the second half of the 2010s winning nine matchups from 2016-20.

Along with the Savannah Invitational, Robert Morris already has non-conference games scheduled with Ohio State, Dayton, and Marshall.

Even though the rosters of Saint Francis and Robert Morris look very different from their bouts with each other while the Colonials were in the NEC, one thing is certain, it should be a good ballgame.