PITTSBURGH, Pa.— The Robert Morris University women's lacrosse team opens its 17th season of NCAA Division I competition and its first as a member of the Mid American Conference Sunday afternoon when they host Liberty University at Joe Walton Stadium.
The Colonials will then face a quick turnaround before hosting Fresno State Tuesday afternoon at the Joe as they kick off their first week of action in almost a full calender year.
COLONIAL WLAX PREVIEW
ROBERT MORRIS (0-0-0, 0-0 MAC)
VS LIBERTY (0-1, 0-0 ASUN)
Sunday, February 21 at 12:00 p.m.
Joe Walton Memorial Stadium
LIVE STREAM
LIVE STATS via Sidearm
ROBERT MORRIS (0-0-0, 0-0 MAC)
VS FRESNO STATE (1-1, 0-0 MPSF)
TUESDAY, February 23 at 12:30 p.m.
Joe Walton Memorial Stadium
LIVE STREAM
LIVE STATS via Sidearm
LAST TIME OUT
It's been almost a full calendar year since Robert Morris last saw a game action, a 15-8 win over Butler at the Joe on March 11, 2020.
Emilie Kim scored twice within the first 95 seconds of game time to start RMU off and running, while the duo of Mackenzie and Melanie Gandy combined for nine goals and 14 points as the Colonials secured a win in what would end up being their final game of the 2020 campaign.
OPPOSITION RESEARCH
Liberty is 0-1 to start the 2021 season after a 13-5 loss to #18 Virginia Tech back on February 12. They finished 3-3 overall a year ago, including a dramatic 14-13 win against the Colonials on March 5 of 2020 in which the Flames scored the go-ahead goal with just four seconds left in regulation.
Tuesday will be the first ever matchup between RMU and Fresno State as the Bulldogs make their way to Moon Township following a 20-11 win over Kent State on February 19. The Bulldogs sit at 1-1 overall on the year.
KNOW BOBBY MO
- RMU was picked to finish second in the MAC in the preseason coaches' poll, earning two first-place votes. Central Michigan took the top spot with four first-place votes, with Kent State coming in third.
- Colonials finished 5-2 a season ago, including a perfect 4-0 mark at Joe Walton Stadium.
- Graduate attack Mackenzie Gandy ended last season four points shy of breaking the all-time program scoring record of 179 points set by Ashley Levering '09. Gandy currently sits at 176 career points heading into Sunday.
- Gandy is also close to breaking several other program records this season, needing 26 goals and 30 assists to pass Jenn Collins '09 and Levering for most all time in each category. Defender Kelley Colegrove needs 21 caused turnovers to pass Colleen O'Donnell '12 for most in program history as well.
- Goalie Katelyn Miller has started every game for the Colonials since arriving on campus four years ago, a remarkable streak of 60 in a row. She has the best goals-against average (10.18) in the 17-year history of the program and the second-best save percentage (.465). Last season she passed Kaitlin Pentz '14 for the most ever wins by an RMU goalkeeper.
- RMU has been formidable at Joe Walton Stadium in recent memory, owning a dominant 22-5 overall record at home dating back to the 2017 campaign.
- The Colonials will boast an expanded squad in 2021 that includes six graduate students, seven total seniors, six juniors, five sophomores and twelve freshmen.
- Robert Morris welcomes back six graduate students for their last go-around with the program, a class which includes their three top scorers in Mackenzie Gandy, Melanie Gandy and R-Sr. Clio Kerr. Ground ball leaders Madison Burke and Kelly Colegrove also make their return, as do free-position goals leaders Thalia Zolis and Shea McArdle.
- The Colonials will see a mix of new and familiar foes as they join the MAC in 2021, They are 2-0 all-time against Kent State, 1-0 against Akron, 2-0 all-time against Central Michigan and 4-1 all-time against Detroit-Mercy meeting the latter two for the last time during the 2017 campaign. They will play first-year Youngstown State as well.
- For a full list of all-time team records and stats, click here.
THE SILVA FILE
Entering her fourth season at the helm of the Colonials, Katrina Silva brings 14 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.
Silva will be joined by the returning Cacki Helmer and Chelsea Rosiek.
FOLLOW THE COLONIALS
In addition to reports and videos on RMUColonials.com, check out Twitter and Instagram for news and updates throughout the season.
