Moon Township, Pa. – Robert Morris University women's lacrosse head coach Katy Phillips announces the eleven student-athletes who joined the Colonials program in the fall of 2016.

"I am very excited to welcome these student-athletes in the Colonials Family," said Phillips. "We expect these eleven new faces to make an immediate impact on the field.  We worked hard to recruit a well-rounded class that will help to add to each of our returning units on the field."

"Each member of this class brings a unique set of strengths to the field," Phillips continued. "They are an important piece in helping us to build on our past success and achieve our goal of an NEC Championship."

Freshmen
Madison Burke - Defense
Kelly Colegrove – Defense
Meghan Crouse - Midfield
Mackenzie Gandy - Midfield
Melanie Gandy - Midfield
Clio Kerr - Attack/Midfield
Shea McArdle - Defense
Katelyn Miller - Goalie
Annie Sachs - Midfield
Thalia Zolis – Midfield
Transfer
Shannon Lynch - Defense

MEET THE CLASS OF 2020

Madison Burke is from Finksburg, Md. and graduated from Notre Dame Prep school. Burke played club lacrosse for Check Hers Elite and will play defense for the Colonials.

Kelly Colegrove joins Burke on defense and hails from Marriotts Ridge high school in Marriottsville, Md. Colegrove was a three-year starter on varsity for Marriotts Ridge and also played for the Cobra and M&D lacrosse clubs.

"Everyone seemed so friendly," Colegrove said of visiting Robert Morris, "I felt like I would fit right in. The size of the school was exactly what I was looking for. The second I stepped foot onto the campus I knew it was where I wanted to be for the next four years."

Meghan Crouse is from Taneytown, Md. and will be a midfielder for the Colonials. Crouse received multiple all-county and all-conference honors during her lacrosse career at Winters Mill high school, earning Academic All-American honors. Crouse was also a four-year member of her school's volleyball and basketball teams. Outside of sports, Crouse was on her school's Distinguished Honor Roll for four years and plans to major in Sports Psychology.

"I knew Robert Morris would give me the best opportunity to be successful on and off the lacrosse field," said Crouse.

A trio of players come to the Colonials from Dulaney high school, following a 2016 Maryland high school state championship, Annie Sachs and twin sisters Melanie and Mackenzie Gandy.
 
Melanie and Mackenzie Gandy call Baltimore, Md. home and are both midfielders and were four-year varsity athletes, receiving multiple all-division, all-county and all-star honors. Multi-sport athletes, both sisters were honor roll students off the field as well.

"I chose RMU because it has a strong business program and I knew I could fulfill my lacrosse career here," said Melanie Gandy. "I get the best of both worlds."

"After visiting a few other schools, I thought Robert Morris had more to offer," said Mackenzie Gandy. "I could see myself going to school there, playing lacrosse there and enjoying every moment. Robert Morris helped me think more about my future and what I would like to do with my life after college."

The Gandy's fellow teammate for State Champion Dulaney high school is another midfielder, Annie Sachs. From Baldwin, Md., Sachs was a four-year varsity athlete, serving as captain. Sachs led Dulaney in scoring in 2015 and was the team's leader in draw controls and assists. An all-county and all-division lacrosse player, Sachs is also an all-academic team performer and an all-county, all-division soccer player, as well as competing in basketball and volleyball. Sachs was named the 2016 Towson Times Girls Lacrosse Player of the Year.
 
Clio Kerr hails from Frederick, Md. and was a four-year varsity athlete for Governor Thomas Johnson high school. Kerr was a four-year all-area honoree, garnering first team status her junior and senior seasons. Kerr was a two-year letterwinner, receiving first team all-conference honors her junior and senior seasons. In 2016, Kerr was in the top ten in scoring in her county, receiving MVP honors from her team. Kerr was the offensive player of the year in volleyball her junior season, also participating in theatre. Kerr received the Marines Distinguished Scholar Athlete Award from her high school and graduated with highest honors.

"Academics are very important and I could tell that at RMU, they would be a top priority," said Kerr. "The coaches and players immediately made me feel as if I was already part of the team and family."
 
Shea McArdle is from Annapolis, Md. and Archbishop Spalding high school. McArdle played for the Bay Area Lacrosse club and will play defense for the Colonials.

"From the minute I arrived at Robert Morris University, the coaching staff talked to me with a powerful, positive, grateful and respectful attitude," said McArdle. "RMU shared their coaching beliefs that was not focused on lacrosse but focused on integrity and character building through this team."

Katelyn Miller is a goalkeeper from Bel Air, Maryland and graduated from C. Milton Wright high school. Miller was a four-year letterwinner and helped C. Milton Wright to four county and conference titles, and two regional championships (2013, 2016). Miller was named first-team All-County, All-Conference, and All-Region in 2014, 2015 and 2016. Miller was a US Lacrosse first-team All-American for the 2015 season.

Thalia Zolis is from Oakville, Ontario and graduated from White Oaks secondary school. Zolis has represented her country, playing for Team Canada throughout the last few months, competing for a spot on the senior women's national team roster for 2017 competition. Zolis was a Provincial Champion in 2015, 2013 and a runner-up in 2012. In 2013, Zolis was the MVP of Team Ontario in the U19 National Invitational gold medal game against Team British Columbia. Zolis was the student-athlete of the year in 2012, also participating in field hockey, volleyball, soccer and ice hockey.

"I chose RMU for a variety of reasons including the sense of community during my visits there," said Zolis. "As soon as I stepped foot onto the RMU campus I felt an immediate connection with the coaches who have been very supportive."
 

Also joining the Colonials on defense for the 2017 season, Shannon Lynch arrives to the program as a transfer from UAlbany. During her freshman season for the Great Danes, Lynch earned a spot as a member of the America East All-Rookie Team after appearing in six games as a reserve at defense. Lynch is a Pittsburgh native, a four-year varsity letterwinner at Shaler high school. Lynch amassed a record of 69-9 in her career at Shaler, captaining the squad in both her junior and senior seasons. Lynch was a member of the 2013, 2014 & 2015 WPIAL Division 2 Championship teams, was named a 2015 US Lacrosse Academic All-American, and a WPIAL All-Star in 2013, 2014 and 2015. Lynch posted 133 goals, 45 assists, 124 draw victories and 104 ground balls in her high school career.

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