Women's Lacrosse 3/19/2015 11:40:00 AM

RMU Travels to Face Pair of Empire State Foes

ROBERT MORRIS (4-2)
at NIAGARA (3-4)
Friday, March 20 at 3 p.m. | Niagara Field, Lewiston, N.Y.
at ST. BONAVENTURE (0-6)
Sunday, March 22 at 12 p.m. | Marra Athletics Complex, Allegany, N.Y.

THE LEAD

The Robert Morris University women's lacrosse team will seek to rebound from its first regulation loss of the season as it stays on the road this weekend. The Colonials, who fell at Oregon last Friday night, continue their non-conference schedule with a pair of games against Empire State opponents Niagara and St. Bonaventure.

MUSKET SHOTS
- Niagara and St. Bonaventure are relatively frequent non-league foes for Robert Morris. The Colonials are facing the Purple Eagles for the third consecutive season and the sixth time overall; they are 3-2 in the all-time series, including 1-0 at Niagara. RMU has faced the Bonnies four times - all in Moon Township - winning one of those.
- On Monday, freshman midfielder Dana Davis was named Northeast Conference Rookie of the Week for the third time in a month. The native of Garnet Valley, Pa., recorded 10 ground balls and four forced turnovers in a two-game stretch against Detroit and Oregon; Davis leads the team with 18 ground balls and nine caused turnovers, in addition to nine goals and three assists.
- Some positive trends were snapped in RMU's 16-4 defeat at Oregon last Friday. The Colonials had to leave their four-game winning streak behind, while junior midfielder Corey Karwacki had her team-best 13-game scoring streak come to an end. Also, Brittany Byerly and Davis were held scoreless for the first time this season.
- Despite the rare off game against the Ducks, Karwacki still paces the team in goals with 15. Senior middie Kristin Yoviene is tops in points, with 29 (14g, 15a) in six games. Yoviene's 2.5 assists per contest ranks sixth in Division I and first in the NEC.
- Jessica Karwacki's overwhelming skill on the draw has pulled her within reach of an all-time NCAA record. The junior from Sparks, Md., is 20 draw controls away from passing former Northwestern star Alyssa Leonard for the most in D-I history. Karwacki has won 450 draws in her RMU career.
- Although they failed to reach double digits against Oregon, the Colonials remain one of the most prolific offensive teams in women's lacrosse. RMU is averaging 16.3 goals per game, ranking fourth in the nation.
- After collecting four wins in its first six games, coach Katy Phillips' squad received votes in the biweekly MidMajorLax.com national poll.

VIDEO FEATURE
Junior western Pennsylvania native Byerly joined Matt Gajtka to talk about her return from last year's injury, her knack for scoring goals and her leadership style:

UP NEXT
The Colonials conclude non-conference play with a home matchup against Campbell on Sunday, March 29. First draw against the Camels will be at noon from Joe Walton Stadium.

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