St. Bonaventure, NY - Robert Morris University women's lacrosse earned its first road victory of the season with a 12-7 win at St. Bonaventure Sunday afternoon.

Freshman midfielder Annie Sachs scored three goals and added an assist to lead the Colonials in scoring. Freshman goalkeeper Katelyn Miller made ten saves on 17 shots, also causing a turnover and picking up two ground balls, backstopping the team's defensive effort that held St. Bonaventure off the board for the final 20:39 of the game.

Sophomore Kerri Sayrafe scored two goals, the first coming 26 seconds into the game. The Colonials applied offensive pressure early with Dana Davis firing four shots in the opening five minutes. She'd find the scoresheet later in the game. Sachs scored the first of her trio of tallies to make it 2-0. 

The Colonials defense held St. Bonaventure without a shot for 7:00 before LeighAnn Stauffer scored to make it a 2-1 game. Senior Katie Breeze and Sachs both scored before the Bonnies used two player-up goals to stay within one. Freshman Mackenzie Gandy made it a two-goal game with her first of the afternoon. The Bonnies then fired off three consecutive goals including a player-up strike, to take a 6-5 lead. Sophomore Maggie Stella scored before the end of the half to tie the game 6-6 headed into the break.

Miller made seven of her ten saves during the first half.

Gandy scored her second of the game, assisted by Alexis Rusnak, to open the second half and retake the lead 7-6. The Bonnies tied things up again with 20:39 remaining, but were unable to score the rest of the way.

RMU scored five goals in the next ten minutes, starting with a pair by Meghan Crouse. Davis scored on a free position shot, then Sayrafe tallied her second of the game, assisted by Thalia Zolis, before Sachs finished off her hat trick and the scoring with 9:40 to play.

The Colonials gathered 36 ground balls, the fourth-highest total in a single-game in RMU history, also causing 21 turnovers, the fifth-highest in a single-game at RMU. Davis led all performers with seven ground balls and five caused turnovers, also earning six draw controls. Crouse posted three ground balls, three caused turnovers and two draw controls. Stella had a goal and assist, three ground balls and two caused turnovers.

Senior defender Megan Wolfgang led the defense with a trio of ground balls and pair of caused turnovers. Junior Kendall Noel had two caused turnovers and a pair of ground balls as well, as did freshman Thalia Zolis who also chipped in a caused turnover and earned two draw controls.

"We pushed our fast break well and tweaked our offense to really spread them out," said head coach Katy Phillips.

"Our goal was to play our style for 60 minutes," said Phillips. " I think the team started well and fought through some adversity [six player-down situations] and finished strong."

"It was a great game to prepare us for being on the road in conference."

Up next, the Colonials (5-4 record) host crosstown rival Duquesne for a 4:00pm game this Saturday, March 25.

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