Pittsburgh, Pa. - Robert Morris University women's lacrosse used a hard-fought second half, capped by a
Meghan Crouse game-winning hat trick, to earn the program's first win of the season and second-ever victory over crosstown rival Duquesne, the first on the Dukes home turf.
Crouse opened the scoring for the Colonials, running from behind the goal and firing a shot from the left side of the cage past Duquesne goalkeeper Emily McMinimee to give RMU a 1-0 lead.
Crouse wasted no time earning her second goal of the game and third of the season with a nifty free-position score, faking the shot high and dropping the ball low and to the left and into the back of the net to make it 2-0 Colonials.
Duquesne's leading returner and captain Jill Vacanti started her senior season with the Dukes first goal of the season on a free-position shot.
The defense for both squads prevented a lot of scoring chances for the remainder of the half. With 1:28 to play in the first, Duquesne pulled even with a goal by Haley Matthai, past her fellow Bel Air, Maryland native and C. Milton Wright alum, RMU goalkeeper Katelynn Miller.
Miller would not allow another in the half, stopping a point blank shot by Rilee Bradshaw with 38 seconds remaining.
Duquesne started the second half strong, with Carlee Braverman and Vacanti scoring in the first 3:32 of the half to give the Dukes their first lead of the game on Braverman's tally, before Vacanti made it 4-2.
RMU battled back, trading goals with Duquesne twice before finally pulling even. Sophomore
Clio Kerr scored her first of the season on a free-position goal. The Dukes returned fire with Vacanti completing her hat trick, before Kerr struck with another free-position tally to keep the Colonials within a goal. Then Duquesne's Sarah Kollhoff put the Dukes back up by two with her first of the game.
Colonials sophomore
Melanie Gandy came blazing into action for RMU, scoring back-to-back goals, 49 seconds apart, to tie the game 6-6 with with 15:05 to play.
The Dukes once again pulled ahead, 7-6, on Braverman's second of the game.
New blood went to work for Robert Morris. Freshman
Madison Griffin scored her second goal of the season to tie the game at seven with 9:05 remaining.
The Colonials went to
Mia Tornetta in goal, giving the freshman her first few minutes of game action. Duquesne wasn't kind with the welcome, as Kollhoff scored twice to complete her hat trick and put the Dukes up 9-7.
Another freshman helping RMU on the comeback trail was
Hannah Miller, notching her first career goal with 5:13 to play, pulling the Colonials within one once again, the Dukes leading by a score of 9-8.
RMU would not be denied. Sophomore
Thalia Zolis found the ultimate equalizer on a free position goal with 4:45 to play.
Crouse completed her hat trick with a game-winning free position goal just 31 seconds later.
The Colonials defensive pressure held the Dukes off the board the rest of the way to seal the victory.
The win marks the first for head coach
Katrina Silva at the Colonials helm, the program's second all-time victory over Duquesne, with the wins coming in back-to-back seasons.
Miller earned the win in goal, making three saves in 55:09 of action.
Crouse finished the day with three goals on four shots and five draw controls. Kerr had two goals on three shots and won one draw. Gandy posted two goals on three shots as well.
Senior
Dana Davis finished just behind Crouse with four draw controls and added a caused turnover as well. The Colonials won the draw control battle by a 14-7 margin.
Madison Burke was a defensive weapon, recording three caused turnovers for the second consecutive game, and collecting a pair of ground balls. Freshman defender
Katie Martin posted her first numbers with a ground ball and pair of caused turnovers.
Robert Morris (1-1, 0-0 NEC) is back in action next Friday as the Colonials open a two-game road trip through Virginia, beginning at Radford and ending at Liberty on Sunday.
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