Box Score

Lawrenceville, N.J. – A season that saw numerous records and milestones broken ended in heartbreak this afternoon, as the Robert Morris University field hockey team fell to Quinnipiac, 1-0, in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championship Game.

The Colonials were even with the Bobcats in shots (8 to 8) and shots on goal (8 to 8), and held an edge in penalty corners (8 to 4).

RMU had the first scoring opportunity in the sixth minute with a penalty corner. The ball eventually made its way to junior captain Jamie Hartley (Tamworth, Australia / University of Newcastle), who rifled a shot but it went wide. Quinnipiac answered with a scoring chance of their own in the 10^th minute, but junior goalkeeper Erin McKenzie (Lismore, Australia / University of Queensland Tech) made a save on Jessica Rusin.

Four minutes later, the Bobcats struck with the first and only goal of the contest when Amanda Danziger stepped to the penalty stroke line and promptly fired a shot past McKenzie.

The Colonials almost tied it up in the 17^th minute when junior forward Julianne Alspaugh (Carlisle, Pa. / Cumberland Valley) slapped a shot that was saved by Megan Conaboy. Quinnipiac answered with a scoring attack in the 30^th minute, but all three shot attempts were either wide or blocked up front.

RMU came out of the locker room with some momentum, gaining two penalty corners within two minutes. A shot by Hartley was blocked by a Bobcat defender, then Quinnipiac came on the counter attack with two shots that were stopped by McKenzie and freshman defender Simone Bindels (Ouderkerk aan de Amstel, NLD / Open Schoolgemeenschap Bijlmer).

After that, the Colonial defense stiffened up and didn't allow another Bobcat shot for the remainder of the game. Sophomore forward Jess Martin-Brown (Mount Gambier, Australia / University of Adelaide) shot one that was saved by Conaboy, then classmate Sophie Watt (Sawtell, Australia / John Paul College) had one attempt blocked and another one sent wide.

With less than two minutes remaining, RMU tried once more for the equalizer. Freshman forward Chloe McIlwaine (Belfast, Ireland / Northumbria University) fired a shot that was stopped by Conaboy, but the Colonials retained possession on the rebound. Alspaugh then rifled one with 17 seconds remaining, but the Quinnipiac goalkeeper stood tall and blocked it to seal the win.

Alspaugh, Hartley, and Watt were all named to the MAAC Field Hockey All-Championship Team.

Despite the loss, the Colonials enjoyed their best season as a program. The 11 wins shatter the previous top single-season wins mark of eight in 2011, and the MAAC Championship Game appearance was the program's first postseason appearance of any kind.

Robert Morris finishes the 2013 season with an overall record of 11-8.