PITTSBURGH, Pa. - The Robert Morris women's lacrosse team closes out their home stand Saturday when the Akron Zips roll into the Joe for some matinee MACtion.
GAME #14
Robert Morris (7-6, 7-0 MAC) vs. Akron (2-12, 1-6 MAC)
Saturday, April 16, 2022
12:00 p.m. | Moon Township, Pa. | Joe Walton Stadium
Live Stats | Live Stream | Tickets
LAST TIME OUT
RMU extended its MAC win streak to 17 games last Saturday with a 15-6 victory over the Kent State Golden Flash at the Joe. Four goals and six points from junior Julia Koterwas helped propel the Colonials to victory.
SERIES HISTORY
Robert Morris has faced off against the Zips every season since the inception of the Akron program back in 2020, and so far have yet to lose, owning a 4-0 mark lifetime against them. After winning their first three matchups by at least 11 goals each, their first showdown this season was a much tighter affair, with RMU earning a 10-6 win in Akron back on March 9.
SCOUTING REPORT
At just 2-12 overall and 1-6 in MAC play, Akron is currently tied with Detroit Mercy for last place in the conference heading into Saturday. Mired in the middle of a ten-game losing streak, the Zips have not had a victory since an 11-6 win over Kent State back on February 23. While the Zips have managed some respectable numbers defensively, an anemic offense averaging a conference-low 8.21 goals per-game has made life tough on them in 2022. Sophomore mid Noelle Boyd currently leads the Zips in scoring with 30 goals and 35 points.
SCORING STREAK
RMU's heavy hitters on offense kept the momentum rolling last week against the Flash. Julia Koterwas led RMU with four goals and six points, each new career highs, to extend her scoring streak to six games. Colleen Tifft and Jerica Obee each scored a pair to extend their streaks to nine and eight games, respectively, as well.
KEEP IT ROLLING
RMU extended its conference win streak to 17 games last week against KSU and can make it 18 Saturday when Akron comes to town. With just three regular season games left until the MAC tournament, RMU is on the precipice of back-to-back unbeaten regular seasons in the MAC and will also have a chance to win the first ever MAC women's lacrosse tournament in May.
MEASURING STICK
The Colonials boast a number of girls amongst the conferences best in a number of different statistical categories this season. Irwin's 29 goals are the sixth-most in the MAC and her 2.42 goals per-game average ranks fifth in the conference. Jerica Obee Julia Koterwas have proven two of the best distributors in the league as well, both tied for sixth at 0.96 assists per game. On the other side of the field, graduate Madison Griffin has arguably been the league's stingiest defender, currently leading the MAC in both ground balls per-game (3.91) and cursed turnovers per game (2.82). Jordan Anderson's 5.75 draw controls per-game is second best in the MAC as well, ranking behind only Boyd from Akron.
MAC AWARDS
RMU made it five straight weeks on the MAC honor roll on Tuesday when Jamie Keller repeated as the MAC Defensive Player of the Week. Her third overall DPOW win of the year, Keller made a career-high 14 saves against KSU to earn her seventh straight MAC win, including four saves on free-position attempts. Her win marks the fifth consecutive week a Colonial has earned weekly awards from the MAC.
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 45-22 career mark at RMU including 25-4 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 hits the road for a matchup at Central Michigan next Saturday, April 23 at noon.
