PITTSBURGH, Pa. - The Robert Morris women's lacrosse team begins its title defense Saturday afternoon when they kick off the 2022 season with a road trip to Ohio State for a showdown against the Buckeyes at 3:30 p.m.
GAME #1
Robert Morris (0-0) @ Ohio State (0-0)
Saturday, February 12, 2022
3:30 p.m. | Columbus, Ohio | Woody Hayes Athletic Center
TV: BTN+ ($) | Live Stats
LAST TIME OUT
The last time the Colonials took the field in a competitive game was way back on May 14, 2021 when they made their NCAA Tournament Debut against #5 Notre Dame. Despite a lopsided final result, the 2021 campaign saw the Colonials reach new heights in a new home conference, winning the inaugural MAC women's lacrosse championship with a perfect 10-0 regular season. Their 14-3 overall record set a new program single-season high in wins as they went undefeated in conference play for the first time in history.
SERIES HISTORY
The Colonials are searching for the program's first ever victory over the Buckeyes after four consecutive losses in a history that dates back to the 2007 season. Robert Morris also opened up the 2020 campaign with a trip to Columbus, a 13-9 loss in their most recent matchup. RMU also dropped contests against the Bucks in 2018 (7-3), 2008 (17-2) and 2007 (13-5). The Colonials are 6-9 lifetime in season openers.
SCOUTING REPORT
The Buckeyes went 4-9 during the 2020-21 campaign a year ago that saw them face off exclusively against Big Ten opponents before dropping a 19-13 matchup against Rutgers in the 2021 Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals. Graduate midfielder Lindsay Epstein, senior midfielder Chole Johnson, and junior attack Nicole Ferrera were all named to the pre-season B10 watch-list during preseason.
BIG SHOES TO FILL
The combined fifth-year and senior classes of 2021 were arguably the strongest in the program's history, and the Colonials will have quite a few spots open for competition following the departure of 11 different members of the 2021 championship squad. 2022 is truly the beginning of a new era for RMU, who will start the year without each of their top-three scorers from a season ago in all-time points and goals leader Mackenzie Gandy, all-time assists leader Melanie Gandy, and Clio Kerr. RMU will also be without the services of goalkeeper Katelyn Miller who started every single game of her RMU career over five seasons, 75 straight, as well as career caused-turnover leader Kelly Colegrove, MAC Defensive Player of the Year Shea McArdle and MAC second-team defender Madison Burke.
NEW FACES
The Colonials welcome 11 newcomers to Moon Township this season, including ten true freshmen. A relatively diverse group, RMU's first years come to campus from five different states including Ohio, Maryland, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, as well as Ontario, Canada. The Colonials also welcome junior transfer Jerica Obee into the fold, who comes to RMU after two seasons as an attacker at St. Bonaventure.
BUILDING BLOCKS
Despite the senior departures, the Colonials still return a number of key pieces from their 2021 championship campaign. Junior mid Jordan Anderson is back after a season that saw her dominate as part of RMU's draw control unit, earning All-MAC First Team honors in the process. Also returning is MAC second-team attacker Kelley Flynn, second-team midfielder Colleen Tifft, and veteran defender Madison Griffin. Tifft is RMU's leading returning scorer after a 2021 campaign that saw her post 15 goals and 28 points in 17 appearances.
BEHIND THE BENCH
Reigning MAC Coach of the Year Katrina Silva returns for her fifth season at the helm of the Colonials as head coach and tenth overall with the program. Owning a 40-19 career mark at RMU including 20-4 in conference play, Silva is joined by the returning Cacki Helmer as assistant coach, as well as first-year assistant Shea Swartwout. Swartwout recently wrapped up her playing career in the spring of 2021 after five years as a midfielder for Niagara University.
NEXT UP
Robert Morris returns to Joe Walton Memorial Stadium for their home opener against Canisius on Saturday, February 19 at 12:00 p.m.
