PITTSBURGH, Pa. - The Robert Morris women's lacrosse team gears up for a home-and-road split this week when they travel to Youngstown State Wednesday before wrapping up non-conference play with a Sunday matinee against Cincinnati at the Joe.
GAME #10
Robert Morris (4-5, 4-0 MAC) vs. Youngstown St. (5-4, 3-0 MAC)
Wednesday, March 23, 2022
3:00 p.m. | Youngstown, Oh. | Stambaugh Stadium
Live Stats | Live Stream
GAME #11
Robert Morris (4-5, 3-0 MAC) vs. Cincinnati (4-6, 0-0 AAC)
Sunday, March 27, 2022
12:00 p.m. | Moon Township, Pa. | Joe Walton Stadium
Live Stats | Live Stream | Tickets
LAST TIME OUT
The Colonials picked up a split last weekend, staying perfect in MAC play with a thrilling 17-16 win over Central Michigan before dropping a non-conference showdown at UMBC three days later. Jordan Anderson led RMU with four goals while Jenna Irwin picked up a hat trick in the win over the Chippewas.
SERIES HISTORY
RMU has never lost to the Penguins, going 2-0 last season in their first two matchups as members of the MAC. The Colonials out-scored YSU 40-19 in those two games including a 23-12 victory in RMU's first ever road game in Youngstown.
The Colonials' history with the Bearcats goes back a bit further, with RMU owning a 2-3 lifetime record against UC in a rivalry series that dates back to the 2008 campaign. The Colonials picked up an 11-8 win in their first ever matchup on February 29, 2008, however they are currently 0-2 in their last two visits there including a 16-7 loss in their most recent matchup last March.
SCOUTING REPORT
RMU faces another unbeaten MAC foe Wednesday when they head to Youngstown State to face a Penguins squad riding a three-game conference wins streak after victories over Akron, Detroit Mercy and Kent State. Picked to finish fifth overall in the MAC Preseason poll, YSU has had somewhat of a surprising run in 2022 thanks in large part to the duo of Natalie Caldera-Ryan and Erin Clark who rank first and second in the conference in goals per-game. As a team, YSU has been the offensive measuring stick for the entire MAC this season, currently boasting a league-best 14.44 goal-per game.
Cincinnati currently sits at 4-6 on the year, with three of their wins coming against MAC opponents in Akron, Kent State and Central Michigan. Picked fourth overall in the AAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, UC boasts three players named to the conference's pre-season team in Dani Mlkvy, Peyton Mottice and Kylie Nause. Nause currently leads the AAC in goals per-game at 3.80.
IRWIN STAYS HOT
Freshman Jenna Irwin continues to pace RMU offensively and extended her goal scoring streak to eight games last weekend with seven goals in two days against CMU and UMBC. The attacker was an all-around force against CMU, firing six shots on goal while grabbing two ground balls and a team best six draw controls. Irwin added an assist against UMBC to finish the day with five points as well as a ground ball and two draw controls and now leads the Colonials with 22 on the season.
STILL STREAKING
RMU extended its conference win streak to 14 games last week against Akron and can make it 15 Wednesday when they head to YSU. A win Wednesday would also mark just the second time in program history the Colonials have started the season 5-0 in conference play after doing so in 2021.
MAC AWARDS
The Colonials picked up a clean sweep in the MAC weekly awards Tuesday after Jenna Irwin was announced as Offensive Player of the Week and Madison Griffin was given Defensive POW honors. It marks the second straight DPOW win for RMU following Jamie Keller's win last week.
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 43-22 career mark at RMU including 23-4 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
RMU heads to Detroit for a matchup with the Detroit Mercy Titans on Saturday, April 2.
