Radford, Va. – Robert Morris University women's lacrosse used a second-half surge to power their way to a road victory over Radford University at Cupp Stadium on Friday afternoon.
Freshman
Kelley Flynn scored her first career goal early in the contest before firing four more into the net to post a five-goal game, leading the Colonials offensive attack. Flynn added a pair of ground balls and caused turnovers as well.
Sophomore
Meghan Crouse continued her scoring ways with a hat trick in her second consecutive game. Crouse was a dominant force on the draw, winning 8 draw controls to go with a pair of ground balls and caused turnovers.
Crouse opened the scoring 3:16 into the game, before Juliette Ruland responded for Radford to tie the game 1-1 on a free position goal, with 24:10 remaining in the first half. Lindsey Carroll gave Radford a 2-1 advantage on another free position goal with 21:07 to play in the opening frame.
In the first 10 minutes, RMU brought the heat, mounting an 8-2 lead in total shots, with Radford's reigning Big South Defensive Player of the Week, Jenny Davis, racking up 5 saves to keep the Colonials from doing further damage in the opening minutes.
Enter Flynn. The freshman notched her first career goal to tie the game at 2-2, with 18:47 left in the half. Crouse followed it up with her second of the game, this time a free position goal, giving RMU a 3-2 lead with 15:42 to play in the first half, and they'd never trail.
Dana Davis scored a free position goal, her second goal of the season, forcing a Radford timeout to try and slow the Colonials momentum. But
Shannon Lynch kept it rolling with her first goal of the season, assisted by
Hannah Miller to give RMU a 5-2 advantage.
The Highlanders strung together three goals to force a 5-5 tie, but Crouse would not be denied the hat trick in her second consecutive game, putting the Colonials ahead 6-5 to end the first half. They'd never surrender the lead.
Robert Morris came out firing on all cylinders in the second half, with six different goal-scorers the rest of the way.
Niki Grillon,
Sophia Eureka,
Melanie Gandy,
Rachel Ward and
Kerri Sayrafe, combined with a pair of goals from Flynn to complete her hat trick, outscoring Radford 8-1 over the first 15:13 of the second half. The pair of goals by Flynn came just 28 seconds apart, both were assisted by Lynch, to give the junior a three point outing. For the freshman Ward, the goal marked the first of her career. Grillon added an assist to give her a two-point game.
Flynn would add her fifth and final tally to give RMU a 15-7 lead, before the Highlanders tried for a late rally, but it was too little, too late. The Colonials held on to close out the 15-11 victory, to move to 2-1 on the season.
Goalkeeper
Katelyn Miller made four saves en route to her second win of the season, in 51:47 of play. Freshman
Mia Tornetta saw her second stint of action on the season, playing the final 8:13.
RMU outshot Radford 37-21, 27-15 in shots on goal, also going 5-for-6 on free position shots.
The Colonials picked up 26 ground balls, earned 17 draw controls and caused 12 turnovers. Sophomore trio of defenders Shea McArde,
Kelly Colegrove and
Madison Burke, each collected three ground balls, while Colegrove also caused a pair of turnovers and Burke, one. Freshman defender
Katie Martin and freshman
Madison Griffin both earned a pair of each, ground balls and caused turnovers. Sophomore
Clio Kerr had an assist, along with four draw controls and three ground balls.
Robert Morris is back in action on Sunday, February 25 at 12:00 p.m. ET at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va. The Colonials are 3-0 all-time versus the Flames. The game can be seen online via
ESPN3 or the Big South Network or follow
live stats for updates.
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