PITTSBURGH, Pa. - The Robert Morris women's lacrosse team closes out their regular season road slate Saturday when they head to Mount Pleasant for a showdown with the Central Michigan Chippewas.
GAME #15
Robert Morris (8-6, 8-0 MAC) vs. Central Michigan (8-7, 6-2 MAC)
Saturday, April 23, 2022
1:00 p.m. | Mount Pleasant, Mich. | CMU Soccer/Lacrosse Complex
Live Stats | Live Stream
LAST TIME OUT
RMU extended its MAC win streak to 18 games last Saturday with a 12-4 victory over the Akron Zips at the Joe. Eight different Colonials recorded a goal for RMU in the win.
SERIES HISTORY
RMU is a perfect 5-0 lifetime against the Chips in a rivalry that predates either schools' membership in the MAC, stretching back to the 2016 campaign when RMU earned a 19-14 road win in their first ever meeting. The two squads battled it out in a high-scoring shootout once already this season, with RMU earning a 17-16 victory at the Joe back on March 16.
SCOUTING REPORT
In a somewhat surprising upset, CMU lost a home showdown with Youngstown State 11-10 on Monday afternoon in Mount Pleasant after defeating them 20-11 on the road just two weeks prior. The loss drops them into a tie with YSU for second overall in the MAC standings with two losses a piece, with the Colonials alone atop the table at 8-0. Despite the setback, CMU still boasts some elite offensive talent in 50-goal scorer Maggie Diebold and junior mid Audrey Whiteside who leads the squad with 60 points.
REGULAR SEASON CROWN
With the CMU loss to the Penguins, Robert Morris can clinch its second straight regular season MAC title with a win Saturday against the Chips. A win would also lock RMU in as the host school for the inaugural MAC women's lacrosse tournament in two weeks.
SCORING STREAK
The Colonials currently boast a number of active scoring streaks heading into Saturday's showdown. Julia Koterwas pushed her streak to seven games last week against the Zips, while Colleen Tifft made it ten straight with a goal after burying the game's opening tally. Jerica Obee is also riding high on a nine game goal streak as well.
KEEP IT ROLLING
RMU extended its conference win streak to 18 games last week against Akron and can make it 19 Saturday when they face the Chips. With just two 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 31 goals are the seventh-most in the MAC and her 2.38 goals per-game average ranks fifth in the conference. Jerica Obee (1.0) and Julia Koterwas (0.85) have proven two of the best distributors in the league as well, ranking fifth and seventh in 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 (3.83) and cursed turnovers per game (2.92). Jordan Anderson's 5.62 draw controls per-game is second best in the MAC as well, ranking behind only Noelle Boyd from Akron.
SHUT THE DOOR
The Colonials conceded just four goals on 11 shots on goal last Saturday against Akron, the fewest goals they've allowed in a game since taking down Akron 18-4 on April 17 of last season in Akron, Ohio. RMU goalie Jamie Keller managed seven saves in the stingy defensive effort for the Colonials.
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 46-22 career mark at RMU including 26-4 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 wraps up the 2022 regular season when the Youngstown State Penguins come to the Joe for Senior Day on April 30.
