MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – Feb. 10, 2012 – Robert Morris field hockey coach Olivia Netzler has announced that Eloise Irwin and Jamie Hartley will serve as captains for the 2012 Colonials squad.

“As a program, we want to build off of last year's success and that starts with our team leadership,” Netzler said. “Eloise and Jamie were a big part of our success last season, and they will continue to make an impact on and off the field for us next year.”

Hartley (Tamworth, Australia / University of Newcastle) was one of three freshmen in 2011 to earn the program's first-ever All-NEC accolades. The midfielder earned All-NEC Second Team honors as well as RMU's Player's Player Award after the newcomer eclipsed the program's single-season records with 21 points and eight goals in her first campaign with the Colonials. The midfielder was also one of three Colonials to surpass RMU's single-season assist record - Hartley now sits third in the rankings with five assists in 2011. Hartley also set RMU single-season records with 43 shots on goal and 72 total shots.

Irwin (Dublin, Ohio / Dublin) was one of Robert Morris' most experienced players as a sophomore in 2011, starting in all 20 games for the Colonials. The defender contributed three points over the season including a goal in RMU's 4-3 win over Appalachian State on Sept. 25. Irwin has started in all 38 games for Robert Morris since joining the team as a freshman in 2010.

Robert Morris is coming off a record-setting year in 2011 with the Colonials earning a program-best eight wins last season. RMU also posted its first-ever win over a nationally ranked team in 2010, topping No. 15 1-0 in overtime at Joe Walton Stadium on Sept. 16. The Colonials bring back 12 student-athletes from last year's squad, losing five seniors to graduation including Chantele Crow – the program's all-time leading scorer.

-RMU-