Moon Township, Pa. - Junior attack Emily Jamison scored the deciding goal with 57 seconds to play, lifting the Robert Morris University women's lacrosse team to a dramatic, much-needed 9-8 win over visiting Central Connecticut in a Northeast Conference clash Sunday afternoon at Joe Walton.

Emma Baukhages, one of seven RMU seniors honored in their final home game, assisted on the winner with a feed from the side of the net. Fellow senior Kristin Yoviene had tied the contest with 1:39 remaining in the second half, countering a three-goal CCSU run that put the Colonials (9-5, 2-3 NEC) on the verge of their fourth consecutive loss.

But Robert Morris, which led 6-4 at halftime, rallied in thrilling fashion in front of their largest home crowd of the year, one that included the university's pep band in addition to boisterous members of the men's lacrosse and hockey teams. The win kept the Colonials alive in the hunt for their second straight berth in the NEC tournament; they must sweep next weekend's two-game road trip to qualify.

"This team is going to push to go to the postseason," said head coach Katy Phillips. "We had a little bit of a sloppy game and we had a slow start to the second half, but we implemented the game plan for the final two goals and pulled it out in the end."

Baukhages (3g, 1a) and Yoviene (2g, 2a) led all RMU scorers with four points each, while junior midfielders Brittany Byerly (2g) and Corey Karwacki (1g, 1a) compiled two apiece. Freshman Dana Davis assisted on Yoviene's tying goal, and junior Jessica Karwacki pulled in six draw controls and added three caused turnovers.

Baukhages, who recorded her third hat trick of the season, said she was the second option on the play that led to Jamison's winning goal, but she made the most of her opportunity to set up RMU's most important strike of the season.
 
"When I got the ball I saw a flash of (Jamison) and knew she was where she needed to be," Baukhages said. "I took a chance and believed in her and she ended up scoring. It was an amazing feeling."

RMU led 7-5 nine minutes into the second half when Yoviene converted a free-position shot - the Colonials went 4 for 9 from the 8-meter line - but the visiting Blue Devils got a pair of goals from Brigit Hogan to tie the game with 10 minutes to go, followed by Kylie Sullivan's go-ahead tally with 7:41 left on the clock.

But with their championship aspirations on the line, the Colonials pushed back.

"We really just dug deep and found the drive we needed," Baukhages said. "We found our groove and never gave up, which I am really proud of."

The day started with an emotional high, as Baukhages, Yoviene, Haley Schemm, Kristi Marks, Jessica Rutherford, Stefany Gale and Rhyan Bofinger were joined by family on the field to commemorate their record-breaking four years on campus. That group has compiled 35 wins at RMU, the most for any senior class in the 11-year history of the program.

"I was really excited to celebrate the career of seven excellent kids," Phillips said. "I feel like their class was the next generation of Robert Morris lacrosse. They've dedicated a lot and sacrificed to bring this program to the next level."

However, the afternoon took a negative turn when defender and co-captain Schemm suffered a lower-body injury in the early going. She was forced to leave the game, so the Colonials' coaching staff made several adjustments to compensate.

"We had to change a lot," Phillips said. "We tried to get an extra defender on at times. Haley has been, with Kristi (Marks), an anchor on our defensive unit. To see her go out was tough, but I'm hopeful she'll be back."
 
It was just the third time this spring the high-scoring Colonials fell short of 10 goals, but this was their first win when netting fewer than 12. The victory means RMU now faces road games at Sacred Heart (Friday) and LIU Brooklyn (Sunday), needing to take both in order to earn a spot in the four-team NEC tournament.

"We really have a chance to do great things this year and I hope we can capitalize," said Baukhages, reflecting on her Senior Day emotions. "I spent the last four years growing up with my class and it's all coming to an end. We take a lot of good memories from the years (here) and we aren't done yet."

Follow the RMU women's lacrosse team on Twitter and Instagram.