Women's Lacrosse | 3/12/2019 7:50:00 AM

MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- The Robert Morris University women's lacrosse team tackles its final two-game week of the non-conference slate when it takes on Gardner-Webb of the Big South at home and the Atlantic 10's St. Bonaventure on the road.

COLONIAL WLAX PREVIEW
ROBERT MORRIS (3-2) vs. GARDNER-WEBB (3-2)
Wednesday, March 13 at 3 p.m.
Joe Walton Stadium
LIVE STATS via Sidearm
LIVE VIDEO via NEC Front Row

ROBERT MORRIS at ST. BONAVENTURE (1-5)
Saturday, March 16 at 1 p.m.
Marra Athletics Complex, Olean, N.Y.
LIVE STATS via Presto

LAST WEEK
With last Wednesday's scheduled match against Duquesne cancelled due to cold weather, RMU had just one game on the docket, falling 12-6 to George Washington on Saturday afternoon in D.C., its first road loss of 2019 after wins at Kent State and Bucknell. The six goals marked a season low for the Colonials, who had scored 42 goals in their first four outings.

Junior Mackenzie Gandy kept up her scoring pace, scoring a pair of goals to lift her team-leading totals to 12 goals and 20 total points. Robert Morris was limited to a season-low 20 shots by the (other) Colonials and committed 23 turnovers, their second most of the early-season slate. Freshman goalie Jamie Keller made her college debut with a late relief appearance.

HISTORY LESSON
Robert Morris has never faced Gardner-Webb in its 14 previous seasons of NCAA Division I lacrosse, but freshman transfer defender Elizabeth Engel appeared in 11 games for the Bulldogs last season, starting three of those. Gardner-Webb is one of two Big South opponents RMU will face this month, along with Radford on March 23. 

As for St. Bonaventure, the Colonials have squared off with this regional foe eight times previously, including matchups in each of the past four seasons. Last March at Joe Walton Stadium, RMU made it four wins in a row against the Bonnies with an 11-6 win. Then-juniors Kerri Sayrafe and Shannon Lynch recorded dual hat tricks on the day, with Lynch adding an assist for a four-point performance. Then-sophomore Madison Burke caused four turnovers and picked up three ground balls.

OPPOSITION RESEARCH
Gardner-Webb has won three in a row after an 0-2 start, rebounding with high-scoring victories against Wofford, Delaware State and Butler. Under first-year head coach Jessie Aguglia, the Bulldogs boast a trio of double-digit scorers, led by freshman attacker Jada Preston (8g, 11a). Sophomore Talen Francis has 11 goals to pace the team

St. Bonaventure has struggled outside of an 18-10 defeat of fledgling Kent State two weeks ago, breaking a 20-game losing streak. The Bonnies' closest loss was a two-goal spread at Butler to open that same trip, but they've also played just one of their first six games at home. Junior Destinee Johnson is atop the team scoring list with eight goals and 13 assists.

WEATHER REPORT
Wednesday is expected to be cloudy, but with a high near 60 degrees and little wind. Saturday in western New York will be colder, with temperatures expected in the low 30s.

KNOW BOBBY MO
Coming off three straight winning seasons in NEC play and five consecutive conference tournament berths, the Colonials enter their 15th season of Division I lacrosse with 12 players who played in all 18 games last season, including six of their top seven scorers and standout junior goalie Katelyn Miller. For more fun facts on this year's squad, click here.

STERLING SILVA
Entering her second season in charge of the Colonials, Katrina Silva brings 12 years of Division I head coaching experience to the table. Before taking over the program in 2018, Silva served as an RMU assistant coach for five years and a volunteer assistant for one.

Previous to her time in Moon Township, Silva led the lacrosse programs at Virginia Tech (four years) and Colgate (seven), in addition to Division III Roanoke College. A goalie in her playing days, she was the 1993 Southeastern Conference defensive player of the year for Towson.

HONOR ROLL
The following Colonials have earned NEC weekly awards this season:
Katelyn Miller (Defensive Player of Week - Feb. 18-24)
Mackenzie Gandy (Player of Week - Feb. 18-24, Feb. 25-March 3)
Clio Kerr (Defensive Player of Week - Feb. 25-March 3)

FOLLOW THE COLONIALS
In addition to reports and videos on RMUColonials.com, check out Twitter and Instagram for news and updates throughout the season.

NEXT WEEK
The Colonials will play just one game next week, hosting the Radford Highlanders of the Big South on Saturday, March 23.