MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa.—In a midweek ASUN Conference game, host Robert Morris got off to a strong start then simply kept pouring it on as the Colonials handed the Bellarmine Knights a 21-13 loss at Joe Walton Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
 
After a fairly even opening six-plus minutes, the Robert Morris offense found its rhythm and opened up a 2-2 game by scoring the next four goals to take a 6-2 lead with two and a half minutes still remaining in the first quarter.  The teams then traded goals as the first period ended 7-4 in favor of the Colonials.
 
Robert Morris continued its dominance into the second period, opening with a 3-0 run.  The Colonials also closed the frame on a high note, scoring with just four seconds on the clock to take a 12-6 lead into halftime.
 
Bellarmine fought back in the third quarter after a goalie change helped slow the RMU offense.  The Knights closed to within three at 13-10, but the Colonials regained the momentum in the final minute of the period.  Bellarmine had control in the offensive end with a chance to climb to within two, but RMU came up with a defensive stop, then again found the back of the net with just four seconds remaining.
 
Robert Morris then rode the momentum all the way to the final horn, outscoring the Knights 7-4 in the fourth quarter to make the final margin eight.
 
"We were facing a championship-caliber opponent with their backs against the wall," said Bellarmine Coach Andrew Whitley, "and Robert Morris responded like the defending champions they are. They came out with a sense of urgency and purpose and that is a credit to their players and coaches who had a real appreciation for the gravitas of moment they were in."
 
For the game, the Colonials enjoyed significant advantages across the stat sheet. Robert Morris outshot BU 59-37 including 41-21 in shots on frame. The Colonials also won 24 of 37 faceoffs and held a 37-21 advantage in ground balls.
 
"Robert Morris was by far the tougher team today as shown by their ground ball advantage," Whitley said. "The number of missed first time ground balls and unforced stick-work errors by our midfield, faceoff unit and defensive personnel was unacceptable, and Robert Morris took advantage of those mistakes and put the ball in the net time after time."

Whitley added that while he believes his team can compete for a conference championship, today was a setback. 
 
"I'm extremely disappointed in our leadership today," he said.  "We came out flat and showed our youth and inexperience in championship-caliber moments. We have the talent to compete for an ASUN championship, but we are still learning about sacrifice and championship-level commitment as a program.  I believe we are headed in the right direction long-term, but today's performance was not up to the standard we have set for ourselves and have even displayed at times this season."
 
Bellarmine got a six-point day from Kyle Playsted who notched four goals and dished out two assists to extend his school record total to 62 points on the season. Christian Della Rocco continued his outstanding year as well, collecting a hat trick to bring him to 34 goals on the season—a number that ties Sean Doyle's total from 2010 for the program record. 
 
The loss drops the Knights to 8-4 overall and evens their ASUN record at 3-3.  The Colonials improved to 5-6, 2-4 ASUN.
 
"We have a quick turnaround against a quality Cleveland St program on Sunday," Whitley said, "and we are going to address the self-inflicted mistakes very directly before heading into that contest.
 
For more coverage of Bellarmine athletics, follow us on Twitter (@BUKnights), Instagram (BUKnights) and Facebook (BUKnights).