PITTSBURGH, Pa. - The Robert Morris women's lacrosse team hits the road Saturday for a showdown with the Detroit Mercy Titans at 2:00 p.m.
GAME #12
Robert Morris (5-6, 5-0 MAC) vs. Detroit Mercy (1-8, 1-4 MAC)
Saturday, April 2, 2022
2:00 p.m. | Birmingham, Mich. | Seaholm High School
Live Stats | Live Stream
LAST TIME OUT
RMU picked up a split last weekend, staying perfect in MAC play with an 18-7 win over Youngstown State before dropping their final non-conference matchup of the season to Cincinnati at the Joe on Sunday, 12-8.
SERIES HISTORY
Robert Morris owns a dominant 7-1 lifetime record against the Titans, with the lone blemish being a 5-4 loss in Detroit back in 2016. Winners of four straight against DM, RMU swept the Titans in their first season as members of the MAC in 2021, posting 19-5 and 21-5 wins against them en route to a perfect 10-0 season. The Colonials defeated Detroit Mercy in their previous meeting this season 17-9 at the Joe back on February 23.
SCOUTING REPORT
The Titans have had a tough go of things in 2022, having currently managed just a single win on the season after taking down Akron 15-12 two weeks ago. After following up the loss with a dramatic 18-17 double-OT defeat against St. Bonaventure and a 16-11 loss at Kent State, DM will be looking to right the ship when the Colonials roll into town Saturday. Sophomore attack Cat Kopchia has been the primary offensive threat for the Titans this season and currently leads them with 29 points, while senior mid Elise Harder leads the squad with 16 goals.
SCORING STREAK
The Colonials have been receiving consistent offensive performances from a number of key players the last few weeks, and have several girls enjoying active scoring streaks. Freshman Jenna Irwin has scored in every game this season besides the opener at Ohio State and currently leads the squad with 25 goals. Jerica Obee led RMU with three points against the Bearcats and extended her scoring streak to five games, while Coleen Tifft's tally in the second pushed her streak to seven straight games with a goal. Lilli Hadden (five games) and Julia Koterwas (four games) also saw their goal-scoring streak extended against UC.
KEEP IT ROLLING
RMU extended its conference win streak to 15 games last week against YSU and can make it 16 Saturday when they head to Michigan. A win Saturday would also mark just the second time in program history the Colonials have started the season 6-0 in conference play after going undefeated in MAC play in 2021.
MAC AWARDS
RMU continued to rack up the MAC hardware this week after graduate defender Madison Griffin was named Defensive Player of the Week for the second straight week following a massive pair of performances against YSU and UC. A Colonial has now won DPOW three weeks running after Jamie Keller's initial win, while Jenna Irwin took home Offensive Player of the Week honors following her games against CMU and UMBC.
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 returns home for Party on the Plaza Saturday, April 9 when they host Kent State. The afternoon will see the Colonials receive their 2021 MAC Championship rings before the RMU men's team takes on Bellarmine at 3:00 p.m.
