It will be a big year for RMU men’s lacrosse as they enter their final year at the ASUN conference. Having won the tournament two years ago, the Colonials experienced a season of inconsistencies last year and will be looking to rebound in their swansong season.
Last November, it was announced that the program will return the NEC in 2025.
The Colonials went 8-8 last season under third-year head coach Craig McDonald, a vast difference from their 10-6 record the previous season, one that saw them collect the ASUN championship and a berth into the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Tournament. Even with the difference, McDonald still collected a playoff win against Jacksonville.
McDonald hopes to leave the ASUN with a similar bang, and he brought in help. McDonald announced last November the hiring of Mike Perrino, a highly touted young coach with an exciting background.
Perrino was an assistant coach at Division III Baldwin Wallace in Ohio. He was a staff member who received the OAC Coaching Staff of the Year award. On top of that, Perrino oversaw a program record 16 consecutive wins and an OAC regular championship. A young, talented mind is joining McDonald’s staff.
McDonald has produced multiple National Lacrosse League prospects, five of whom left at the end of last season, which was a significant loss for the Colonials. Taggart Clark and Colton Lindstone were both at the top of the charts in points for the Colonials. Clark led the Colonials with 31 goals and 22 assists, while Lindstone pitched in with 12 goals and 15 assists.
Returning for RMU are junior David Burr and senior Liam Keane, along with graduate student Elliot Holden, all of whom joined Clark and Johansen atop the goal and point charts. Burr was second in team goals last year with 26. Junior goaltender Nate Randall will be returning between the pipes.
Randall garnered the most minutes for RMU last spring. Still, he will be assisted by graduate trendy Liam Rosenthal and senior Kyle Reihner, providing big boosts for the Colonials in the net.
McDonald’s also brought in 12 new freshmen recruits, which has proved common for the coach, bringing in 12 last year as well, the largest freshmen classes in recent years for RMU.
Robert Morris will begin their season like last, against Seton Hill on Feb. 2 in an exhibition match at Joe Walton Stadium. Following their game against the Griffins, the Colonials will travel north to take on Michigan in Ann Arbor to finish exhibition matches.
RMU opens up their nonconference play against the Richmond Spiders in North Bethesda, Md, on Feb. 10, then will travel to New York to take on St. Bonaventure. The Colonials will return home to face Canisius before heading back to New York for a classic matchup against Hobart. The Statesmen always prove to be a thrilling and challenging matchup for the Colonials, with their last meeting ending in a 14-12 loss for Robert Morris last March. With a record of 5-6, this meeting is undoubtedly one to watch.
Before opening up ASUN play, the Colonials will face Virginia on Mar. 5. Opening up their ASUN farewell tour will take RMU down to Jacksonville, where they will face the Dolphins. They’ll return home to take on Detroit Mercy before heading to Ohio to face Cleveland State. To end March, Robert Morris will take on Mercer before facing 2023 ASUN champions, Utah, on Apr. 5.
RMU will travel south to Kentucky to face Bellarmine before coming home to meet Queens. The Colonials will look to end the season nicely, facing Lindenwood away before closing the season at home against the team that knocked them out last year in Air Force for Senior Day, a scintillating conclusion to ASUN regular season play.
The ASUN postseason championships begin Apr. 30, manifesting their final appearances and road to glory.
With great additions on and off the field and solid experience handling the ASUN storm, Coach McDonald will surely see his team return to the success felt in previous years before returning to the NEC in 2025.
The Colonials will play in an exhibition match against Michigan in Ann Arbour tomorrow afternoon.
