PITTSBURGH, Pa. - The Robert Morris women's lacrosse team returns to action at Joe Walton Memorial Stadium for the first time this season when they host Canisius Saturday in their 2022 home opener.
GAME #2
Robert Morris (0-1) vs. Canisius (1-0)
Saturday, February 19, 2022
12:00 p.m. | Moon Township, Pa. | Joe Walton Stadium
TV: YouTube | Live Stats
LAST TIME OUT
RMU kicked off its 2022 campaign on the road in Columbus last weekend, dropping a 17-5 loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes on opening day at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. Despite five different Colonials all finding the back of the net against the Buckeyes, RMU could not overcome a dramatic 8-1 OSU run in the first quarter that put them in a hole early on.
SERIES HISTORY
The Golden Griffins have had RMU's number historically speaking, owning an 8-1 lifetime record against RMU in a rivalry that dates back to the 2007 season. Ironically, the Colonials snapped their streak of futility against the Golden Griffins last time they met, earning an 11-10 win at the Joe back on February 20, 2019, RMU's first ever win over Canisius. Senior Emily Kim scored the second goal of her Colonials career in the victory in what was her second career game at the time.
SCOUTING REPORT
Canisius sits at 1-0 to start the season following an opening day win at Bucknell 14-12 last Saturday. Going just 2-8 overall a year ago and 2-7 in MAAC play, the Golden Griffins enter 2022 as the first season under new head coach Russell Allen and were picked to finish seventh overall in the MAAC Pre-season Coaches Poll. Seniors Skylar McArthur and Shannon Maroney are currently the reigning MAAC Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week following their performances against Bucknell last weekend, and sophomore mid Riley Davis was elected to the MAAC All-Freshman Team a year ago after posting 19 goals and 23 points in ten games.
SEASON FIRSTS
RMU's season opener against OSU saw a number of season and career firsts for the Colonials. Jordan Anderson, Bailey Christianson, Jerica Obee, Colleen Tifft and Mackenzie Bell all scored their first goals of the season for RMU Saturday afternoon, with Obee scoring her first ever as a Colonial. Senior keeper Jamie Keller earned her first career start in goal as well, making a career-high nine saves.
DEFEND THE JOE
Robert Morris has not lost a game at home since dropping a 10-7 decision against Liberty way back on February 27, 2019 - a streak of 17 straight games and 1,097 days and counting. It marks the longest current home unbeaten streak for any Robert Morris program.
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 40-20 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 turns around and gets right back into action next Wednesday when Detroit Mercy rolls into town for their MAC season opener at 1:00 p.m.
