Smithfield, R.I. – The Robert Morris University men's lacrosse team cut a four-goal halftime deficit to a single score and trailed by just one goal near the middle of the fourth quarter, but Bryant pulled away late and used multiple empty-net tallies to claim a 14-7 victory in the Northeast Conference (NEC) Championship Saturday afternoon at Bulldog Stadium.

RMU tallied a game-high 15 caused turnovers, which was a fitting end to the campaign in that department. Saturday's performance moves the Colonials' caused turnovers per game average to 11.27, which is not only a new single-season school record but also has a legitimate chance of being the top mark in Division I this season.

Junior long-stick midfielder Sean Meagher (Chesterfield, Mo. / St. Louis University), the 2013 NEC Defensive Player of the Year, had a heroic performance as his seven caused turnovers not only broke the RMU single-game school record but also the NEC Tournament record. Meagher, who also added a career-high six ground balls, extended his single-season school record in caused turnovers to 38 and also clinched the highest caused turnover per game mark (2.53) in RMU history, becoming the first Colonial ever to average more than two per game.

Senior midfielder Connor Martin (Maumee, Ohio / St. John's Jesuit) tied his career high of two goals to lead the RMU offense Saturday and picked up his fifth multi-goal outing in the team's past 10 games.

Senior Jake Hayes (Calgary, Alberta / Central Memorial) assisted on a goal in the third quarter to extend his career long point streak to 30 games. Hayes finished with 89 goals and 123 points in his career, marks which rank sixth and seventh, respectively, all-time at RMU.

Redshirt senior attackman Dave Morton (Orangeville, Ontario / Hill School) scored a goal Saturday to complete his career with 64 goals and 104 points, totals that rank seventh and eighth, respectively, all-time at RMU.

True freshman midfielder Eric Rankel (Philadelphia, Pa. / Downingtown West) completed his impressive rookie campaign with a goal in the title contest to finish the year as the team's leader in points and goals with 40 and 28, respectively. Both of those marks represent RMU freshmen records.

Meagher, Morton and Rankel were each named to the NEC All-Tournament Team.

Bryant controlled the first quarter and led, 4-0, after the opening frame.

RMU began to fight back early in the second and would score back-to-back goals to cut the lead in half. Bryant would respond with a pair of goals in the final four minutes of the half to reinstate its four-goal edge, 6-2, at intermission.

Robert Morris came out of the gates strong in the second half and dominated the third quarter, outscoring the Bulldogs, 4-1, and trailed, just 7-6, after 45 minutes of action.

Bryant scored a goal one minute into the fourth quarter, but RMU answered it fewer than 30 seconds later to once again cut the lead to one, 8-7. That would prove to be as close as the Colonials would get, though, as the Bulldogs were able to gain some breathing room in the final minutes.

Robert Morris had a higher clearing percentage and also committed fewer turnovers than the Bulldogs Saturday. The Colonials have also now made more turnovers than their opponent just once in their past 22 contests.

With its 2013 campaign in the books, RMU broke the single-season team record for clearing percentage (.878) and tied the single-season team record for man-up conversion percentage (.511).

With his output Saturday, Meagher surpassed his brother, Mike Meagher , to move into second place in career caused turnovers at RMU with 55.

Redshirt senior Charles Ruppert (Long Island, N.Y. / Massapequa) posted 12 saves on the day to move into second in single-season saves with 163. He increased his career save total to 379, a mark which ranks second all-time at RMU.

Junior long-stick midfielder Tyler Rankel (Downingtown, Pa. / Downingtown West) notched two caused turnovers and two ground balls against the Bulldogs. In doing so, he tied his current assistant coach, Jordon Sealock, in fifth place in all-time caused turnovers at RMU.

Despite the setback in its first championship game appearance, Robert Morris still has the best overall record in the conference and posted a winning record for the fifth consecutive season, extending the longest active streak in the league.