MOUNT ST. MARY'S (0-8, 0-0 NEC) vs. ROBERT MORRIS (3-4, 0-2 NEC)
Tuesday, March 25, 2014, 4:00 p.m.
Waldron Family Stadium, Emmitsburg, Md.
LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATS | FOLLOW ON TWITTER
MOUNT UPDATE: Mount St. Mary's lost to UMBC, 17-7, on Saturday to fall to 0-8 on the season. Bubba Johnson had a goal and an assist for the Mount in the loss. Johnson leads the Mountaineers with 10 points (7g, 3a) while Mike Pascali is second on the team with six points (4g, 2a). Chris Klaiber has started all eight games, posting a 13.06 GAA and 85 saves.
ABOUT THE COLONIALS: Robert Morris defeated Jacksonville, 13-9, at home on Saturday to move to 3-4 on the season. James Rahe and Luke Laskiewicz each scored four goals in the win over the Dolphins. Laskiewicz leads RMU in scoring with 14 goals and 21 points. Rahe has 18 points (13g, 5a) with JonPatrik Kealey adding 16 points (11g, 5a). In goal, Brian Bohn has a 10.21 GAA and a .482 save percentage.
THE ALL-TIME SERIES: Mount St. Mary's holds a 4-2 lead in the all-time series with Robert Morris. Last year, the Mount was edged by the Colonials, 12-11, in Moon Township, Pa. The Mountaineers are 2-0 all-time at home against RMU, and this will be the first matchup at Waldron Family Stadium since a 12-11 Mount win on April 2, 2011.
LAST YEAR'S GAME: A late rally came up short as the Mount lost at Robert Morris, 12-11, last season. Brett Schmidt had three goals and three assists for the Mountaineers in the loss. The Mount trailed by three goals with 9:54 remaining, but was able to cut the deficit to 12-11 with 5:50 left. The Colonials, however, held the Mount off the scoreboard the rest of the way. Daniel Stranix added three goals with Connor Carey chipping in a pair in the loss. Tyler Digby, Dave Brous, Connor Martin, Jake Hayes and Luke Laskiewicz each scored twice to lead a balanced Robert Morris scoring effort. Robert Morris led 7-3 at the half.
NORTHEAST CONFERENCE OPENER: The Mount opens its fourth season in the Northeast Conference with the Tuesday game against Robert Morris. The Mountaineers are 1-2 all-time in NEC openers, with all three games played at home. The Mount's first-ever NEC game was a 12-11 win over Robert Morris on April 2, 2011. The Mount lost to Quinnipiac (12-8) in the 2012 NEC opener, and the team fell to Sacred Heart (14-5) in last year's NEC opener. The Mount is 8-7 all-time in NEC regular season games.
HAT TRICK: Bubba Johnson recorded his first career hat trick in the Mount's 9-6 loss to No. 20 Drexel on March 15. It is also the first hat trick of the season for the Mountaineers this year.
BALANCED SCORING: The Mountaineers have had balanced scoring this season as 17 different players have found the back of the cage. Bubba Johnson has a team-high seven goals. Fourteen different players have recorded their first career goal this season.
SCORING WOES: The Mount offense has struggled this season, averaging just 4.88 goals per game. The Mount has scored a season-high seven goals twice (8-7 loss at Manhattan and 17-7 loss to UMBC). The Mountaineers are averaging 26.4 shots per game.
THE MOUNT VS. RANKED OPPONENTS: The Mountaineers are 5-52 all-time against ranked opponents since the move to NCAA Division I in 1989. Mount St. Mary's is 0-3 against ranked foes this year, falling to then No. 6 Maryland, 16-3, in the season opener, No. 4 Virginia, 14-6, at home on Feb. 25, and 9-6 to No. 20 Drexel on March 15.
PRESEASON POLL: The Mount was tabbed to finish in sixth place in the annual Northeast Conference Preseason Poll. Defending champion Bryant was picked to finish first with Robert Morris and Hobart in a tie for second. Saint Joseph's, Sacred Heart, the Mount and Wagner round out the poll.
THE NORTHEAST CONFERENCE: The Mountaineers are in the Northeast Conference, which will be in its fourth season of play. The NEC has a new look this year as Hobart and Saint Joseph's join the league, which includes the Mount, Bryant, Robert Morris, Sacred Heart and Wagner. Mount St. Mary's won the inaugural NEC title in 2011, while Bryant has won the league the past two years.
UP NEXT: The Mount hosts Hobart in a Northeast Conference matchup at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 29, at Waldron Family Stadium.
