Moon Township, Pa. ? First-year head coach Olivia Netzler, of the Robert Morris University field hockey team, notched her first career victory Saturday afternoon as the Colonials defeated Mercyhurst, 2-1, at Joe Walton Stadium. With the victory, RMU improves to 1-3 on the season, while the Lakers fall to 0-4.

RMU out shot Mercyhurst, 4-1, in the first half, but it took 28:12 for the first goal to be scored. Senior Shawna Kushner (Shippensburg, Pa. / Shippensburg) scored her first goal of the season off a loose ball in front of the net. Freshman Courtney Bertolone (Farmingville, N.Y. / Sachem East) picked up her first career assist and point on the play.  

Trailing by a goal, the Lakers turned it up a notch in the second half, tallying six shots on goal. RMU managed seven shots on goal in the second half. Kushner picked up her second goal of the game and season at the 46:21 mark of the second half, beating Mercyhurst goalkeeper Jennifer Coleman off of her own rebound.

Mercyhurst picked up a goal, spoiling senior Kate Dunlap's (Centerport, Pa. / Schuylkill Valley) shutout bid, at the 50:38 mark, when Emily Warren bounced a ball past Dunlap.

For the game, RMU out shot Mercyhurst, 14-9, and held the advantage in penalty corners, 9-6.

The Colonials return to action tomorrow when they host La Salle at Noon.