LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The Bellarmine lacrosse team continues ASUN Conference play on Saturday at 3 p.m. when the Knights faceoff against Robert Morris University in Joe Walton Stadium in Moon Township, Pennsylvania.
 
The Colonials are new conference foes for the Knights, but they are a common opponent with RMU and BU squaring off 15 times previously.  The series has been competitive with Bellarmine holding a slim 8-7 advantage.
 
This year, Robert Morris (5-4, 1-0 ASUN) comes into the Bellarmine game riding a three-game win streak and playing some of the best lacrosse in the league according to Bellarmine Coach Andrew Whitley.
 
After the Colonials dropped a 13-11 decision to High Point on March March, they reeled off victories over Marquette and Drexel before besting Detroit Mercy 12-5 last week in their ASUN debut.
 
Offensively, the Canadian duo of Corson Kealey and Taggart Clark pace the Colonials.  Kealey, a graduate student from Ottawa, has netted 29 goals and handed out 11 assists, while Clark, a native of Stouffville, Ontario, has rung up 30 goals while handing out eight assists.  Kealey has already picked up two ASUN Player of the Week honors this season.
 
On defense, the RMU boasts two different players who have won ASUN Defensive Player of the Week. James Leary picked up the honor on March 22, and Evan Hellmich won it for the Week of Feb. 22.  That pair has combined for 34 caused turnovers and 44 ground balls to lead the Colonial defensive unit.
 
In goal, Nate Randall is the primary net-minder, but Coach Craig McDonald has given three different players more than 60 minutes of action between the pipes.  While Randall worked the first half in last week's win over Detroit Mercy, Ben Savick was impressive in the second half with 11 saves while allowing just three goals.
 
At the dot, Bo Columbus has taken the lion's share of the faceoffs for RMU, and he is putting together a solid year, winning 56.6 percent of his draws (125 of 221).
 
Bellarmine (3-9, 1-0 ASUN) can match RMU with an ASUN Player of the Week recipient and do one better as two Knights have earned the distinction.  Brayden Brown won the accolade the first week of the season, and Kyle Playsted has earned the laurel twice and is the reigning ASUN Player of the Week after accumulating seven points on three goals and four assists against Cleveland State.
 
Just a sophomore, Playsted is quickly earning a spot in the Bellarmine record book.  He enters Saturday's game needing just three assists to tie Chase Williams for most in a season (25), and he is just 11 points away from most in a season (52 by Garett Kikot in 2006). 
 
Other top offensive producers for the Knights include Christian Della Rocco with 15 goals and eight assists and Brown, who has racked up 16 goals and five assists despite seeing significant minutes in just five games this season.
 
Defensively, Jon Robbins continues to lead the way for Bellarmine and comes into the weekend needing three caused turnovers to tie his own record of 35 in a season.  The preseason ASUN Defensive Player of the Year is getting plenty of help from Bellarmine newcomer Brady Long.  The freshman has notched 19 CTs and 27 ground balls this season.
 
Another newcomer is coming off a strong performance at the faceoff "x" as freshman Aiden Fearn went 15-for-23 against Cleveland State. On the year, he has taken 99 faceoffs, winning 44.  Fellow freshman Cole Messick also has seen significant time facing off for the Knights, and he leads the team with a win percentage of .488 (61 of 125).
 
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