PITTSBURGH, Pa. - The Robert Morris women's lacrosse team stayed undefeated at home Saturday afternoon at the Joe, taking down the visiting Bucknell Bison 11-8 to move to 3-1 on the season.
RMU erased a 6-1 first-half deficit, outscoring Bucknell 10-2 over the final 40 minutes of game time for a dramatic come-from-behind win. Melanie Gandy led the Colonials offensively, posting a team best three goals and six points.
Four different Colonials turned in multi-goal efforts in the victory for Robert Morris.
"We started off a little slow to the game," head coach Katrina Silva said. "It was mid-term week, and it definitely showed the first 15 minutes of the game, but a quick timeout where we changed some things, changed some things on defense at halftime, and I thought the real Robert Morris showed up in the second."
A hot start for the Bison had the Colonials in an unfamiliar position to start the first half, as Bucknell rattled off three quick goals in the first eight minutes to put RMU in an early hole.
Morgan Steinhacker opened the scoring just 59 seconds in, whipping a ball past Katelyn Miller from in tight to give Bucknell a 1-0 lead off the opening draw.
Julia Bradbury and Tegan Warren soon made it 3-0, as Tegan fired one from inside the eight-meter arc that appeared to handcuff Miller as the Bison pushed their lead to three goals.
The Colonials were finally able to stop the bleeding two minutes later, as the Gandy sisters combined to put RMU on the board. Melanie collected a nice feed from Mackenzie behind the goal, ripping one low post to make it 3-1 as RMU started to slowly find their footing against a structured and physical Bison unit.
"Bucknell is a great team, they are a very physical team, which is something we'll see alot of in conference play," Silva said. "Every non-conference opponent gives you a different challenge in preparing for your conference schedule."
Though Bucknell was able to stymie Robert Morris in transition for much of the opening 30 minutes, an opportunistic Colonials squad was still able to generate some quality looks when presented.
Thalia Zolis cut the lead to 6-2 off of a free position attempt at the 8:50 mark, injecting some momentum back into a Colonials sideline that soon rattled off three straight goals. Clio Kerr and Mackenzie Gandy quickly made it a two-goal game as each buried their first of the afternoon to put RMU within striking distance.
The Colonials continued to press as the game entered the second half, sticking to their structure as they tried to slow down the Bucknell attack and generate some transition offense of their own.
A Kelly Colegrove caused turnover five minutes into the final frame led directly to an extended offensive possession for the Colonials before Melanie Gandy finished it off with her second goal of the afternoon. It was one of 16 caused turnovers on the day for RMU.
A Colonials squad that found themselves fighting an uphill battle to start the game suddenly found themselves within striking distance, cutting the Bucknell lead down to a goal as Kelley Flynn found the back of the net.
Emilie Kim brought RMU all the way back at 15:27 of the second, taking a Mackenzie Gandy feed off a free-position attempt and whipping it past Caitllin Tucker to pull RMU even at 7-7.
Mackenzie Gandy's second of the afternoon capped off what was a 4-0 run to start the second half for the Colonials, giving them their first lead of the game at 13:35 of the second.
A tying goal from Bucknell didn't faze a focused and hungry RMU offensive unit, who continued to assert themselves over the Bison. Three straight goals from RMU over the final five minutes, including the game-winner from Melanie Gandy, helped the Colonials complete the win and stay perfect at The Joe.
RMU returns to action next weekend when they head out on the road for a pair of showdowns against Radford and Liberty on Tuesday and Thursday afternoon.Â
"You have to be able to match your opponent and know what their strengths are, and then bring your strengths to the game," Silva said. "You have to be able to do what makes you great, and I thought we took care of the ball, made some great plays on defense, and found our grittiness."Â
