Moon Township, Pa. - The Robert Morris University women's lacrosse team sent its seniors out in style Sunday afternoon with a 22-5 trouncing of Northeast Conference foe Saint Francis (Pa.) on senior day at Joe Walton Stadium. With the victory the Colonials finish the 2008 season 5-11 overall and 4-4 in NEC action.
Head coach Katy Phillips saw her squad set several new team records in the win including most goals scored in a game (22), most points in a game (35), most shots (58), fewest shots by an opponent (10) and most players to register a point (20).
The Colonials' entire starting lineup picked up at least a point as senior Bethany Mahaffey (Edgewater, Md. / Annapolis Area Christian) led the way with five goals and an assist. Junior Jenn Collins (Edgewater, Md. / South River) added four helpers to give her 31 points on the season. Senior Josephine Zizic (Chicago, Ill. / Culver) tacked in two goals for two points while senior Meredith Milsak (Brighton, Mich. / Brighton) and junior Jillian Howley (East Northport, N.Y. / Northport) matched the effort with a goal and an assist each.
Junior Kara Blakeley (Gibsonia, Pa. / Pine Richland) and seniors Brittanny Smith (Owen Sound, Ontario / West Hill Secondary), Pam Deguffroy (Irwin, Pa. / Norwin), Meghan Wheeler (Jordan, N.Y. / Jordan-Elbridge), Evie Cutshaw (Cleveland, Ohio / Magnificat) and Nicki Runfola (Cumming, Ga. / South Forsyth) rounded out the starting field players with a goal each. Blakeley knocked in her 22nd of the campaign while Smith and Deguffroy picked up their first of the season. For Wheeler, Cutshaw and Runfola, the goal was the first of their careers.
Off the bench, junior Ashley Levering (Glenwood, Md. / Glenelg) picked up a goal and two helpers to finish atop the Colonial leader-boards with 40 points. Junior Emily Tomlinson (Springfield, Va. / West Springfield) and sophomore Missy Sunseri (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Mt. Lebanon) had two points apiece.
Not to overshadow the individuals scoring their first career goals from the class of 2008, but senior Brittany Borsody (Germantown, Md. / Wagner) and freshman Lynette Gomez (Ocean, N.J. / Ocean Township) also registered their first in a Colonial uniform. Freshman Ashley Trombetta (Sykesville, Md. / Century) and sophomores Courtney Borsody (Germantown, Md. / Seneca Valley) and Alexis Liberatore (Marriotsville, Md. / Liberty) added goals while sophomore Alana Beck (Carle Place, N.Y. / Old Dominion) closed out the offense with her 18th assist of the season.
After giving up the first goal in the opening minute, Robert Morris turned up the heat and took off on an offensive flurry. The Colonials tied the game less than a minute later and went onto to outscore the Red Flash, 13-3, through the rest of the first half. RMU unleashed a season-high 34 shots in the opening frame, with 27 of them coming on goal.
Robert Morris continued its attack in the second half, as the Colonials connected eight times on 24 shots. The defense played their part as well. Saint Francis (Pa.) was limited to just three shots and one goal for the entire half. They finished with 10 shots for the game.
Senior Lauren Hartsfield (Cumming, Ga. / South Forsyth) earned the win in goal for Robert Morris, stopping three shots and allowing just five goals over 60 minutes worth of work. She finishes the season with an overall record of 2-1.
