Riverdale, N.Y. ? March 20, 2009 ? The Robert Morris University Colonials surpassed the Manhattan Jaspers in a 17-13 win on Friday night at Gaelic park. The victory marks the Colonials fourth win of the season and improves their record to 4-4, while the Jaspers fall to 4-2.
Senior Jillian Howley (East Northport, N.Y. / Northport) captured a game high five goals in the win, which marks just the second time Howley has recorded a five-goal game in her career. Senior Jennifer Collins (Edgewater, Md. / South River) also had a strong night with four goals and two assists for six points and senior Kara Blakeley (Gibsonia, Pa. / Pine Richland) registered two goals in the win. Once again, Ashley Levering (Glenwood, Md. / Glenelg) led the Colonials in assists with three and added a goal for four points.
Sophomore Karly O'Brien (Rockville, Md. / Our Lady of Good Counsel) notched a career-high five caused turnovers and is only the fifth Colonial to record at least five caused turnovers in a game. Junior goalie Erica Webb (Arnold, Md. / Broadneck) led the team in ground balls with eight and compiled 14 saves in the triumph.
Robert Morris finished the contest going three-for-six on free position attempts, while Manhattan ended the contest going five-of-nine. The two squads were relatively even on draw controls with the Jaspers winning 16 and the Colonials winning 15.
The Colonials notched the first goal of the game when Howley found the back of the net within the first two minutes of the game to take the 1-0 lead.
Within the next six minutes Manhattan's attack made several attempts to get a point on the board, but the Colonial's strong defense was able to prevent the score. At 8:22 the Jaspers were finally able to connect on a free position attempt to knot the game 1-1.
Robert Morris took back the lead at with 21:06 left on the clock when Collins scored her first goal of the night to give the Colonials a 2-1 advantage. Beck added another goal to the Colonials' collection a little over a minute later to give RMU a two goal lead.
Manhattan's Chrissy Gutenberger was able to get past Webb 51 seconds after Beck's goal to move the score to 3-2.
With 18:38 left on the clock the Colonials gained a surge of momentum and scored four goals within less than a two minute span to increase their lead to 7-2. Two of the four goals were scored on free position attempts by Ashley Trombetta (Sykesville, Md. / Century) and Blakeley.
Throughout the remainder of the first-half Manhattan was able to add three more points to the scoreboard, while Robert Morris tallied two more goals, which left the score at 9-5 heading into the second half.
Manhattan started off play in the second half with the first goal at 1:18 by Phelici VanOverbeke. However, the Colonials responded to that goal with three of their own in the next four minutes to give them a six goal advantage.
The Jasper's would not disappear, as they were also able to score three unanswered goals within a three minute span, two of which were scored by Julia Lavelle on free-position shots.
The three goal pattern continued, as RMU's Tomlinson, Collins and Howley each triggered shots into Manhattan's net to set the score at 15-9. Tomlinson scored the first goal of the group with 19:26 left on the clock and her teammates were able to score the other two goals within less than a minute.
Throughout the remainder of the contest, Manhattan beat the Colonial defense four times, but Robert Morris was able to pull through with the victory. Robert Morris ended the game,17-13, with a goal by Howley with one second left on the clock.
Julia Lavelle led the Jaspers with four goals, while Elizabeth Dugan, VanOverbeke, and Gutenberger each added two goals in the contest.
The Colonials head to New Jersey for their first conference contest of the season against Monmouth on Sunday, March 22 at 12:00 p.m.
