Buffalo, N.Y. - After falling, 15-9, in the previous day's game, the Robert Morris University women's lacrosse team bounced back into the win column by defeating the Niagara Purple Eagles, 15-7, on the campus of Canisius College this afternoon.
The Colonials (3-4) brought the curtains down on the Purple Eagles with eight different players scoring goals. Sophomores Jenn Collins (Edgewater, Md. / South River) and Ashley Levering (Glenwood, Md. / Glenelg) gave Niagara nightmares combining for ten points in the contest. Collins notched her second five-point game in as many days, scoring four goals and an assist while Levering scored three goals with two assists.
Junior Bethany Mahaffey (Edgewater, Md. / Annapolis Area Christian) and Sophomore Jillian Howley (East Northport, N.Y. / Northport) tallied two goals a piece while Junior Pam DeGuffroy (Irwin, Pa. / Norwin), Junior Josephine Zizic(Chicago, Ill. / Culver Academy)
, Freshman Ali Harris (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Shady Side Academy) and Freshman Ali Gibbons (Candia, NH / Machester) each added a goal.
Sophomore Kara Blakeley (Gibsonia, Pa. / Pine Richland), Freshman Courtney Borsody (Germantown, Md. / Seneca Valley) and Junior Brittanny Smith (Owen Sound, Ontario / West Hill Secondary) registered assists on the day.
After exchanging goals to open up the game, 1-1, Robert Morris quickly went to work, reeling off three unanswered goals to push ahead. Levering got the ball rolling with back-to-back goals followed up with Collins's first of the day. The Colonials were temporarily interrupted by a Niagara score, but rebounded to close out the frame on a five-goal run and take a 9-2 advantage into halftime.
Robert Morris picked up right where they left off to open up the second half. Collins and Howley added to scores at 27:14 and 25:43, pushing the lead to 11-2. Niagara hung tough in the second half, scoring their first goal in almost 16 minutes at 24:51, cutting the lead to eight.
Niagara's offense emerged in the final 20 minutes of the match as both teams traded goals to the whistle. Ali Harris and Ali Gibbons both scored their first collegiate goals in the game with Harris marking one at 17:46 and Gibbons at 2:55.
Freshman Erica Webb (Arnold, Md. / Broadneck) recorded her second victory of the year in net for the Colonials, finishing the game with nine saves on 16 shots on goal.
Robert Morris out-shot Niagara, 34-21 while holding the advantage in ground balls, 13-12, and draw controls, 13-11.
The Colonials wrap up their tour of New York this Sunday as the team travels to New Rochelle for a match-up against Iona College. Game time is scheduled for a noon start.
