GAME 1
RMU (0-0 / 0-0 #MAC) at Ohio State (0-0 / 0-0 #BIGWLAX)
Friday, February 10 | 3:00 p.m.
Ohio State Lacrosse Stadium (1,894) | Columbus, Ohio
 
Opening Draw

• The Robert Morris women's lacrosse team opens its 2023 campaign on the road in Columbus, Ohio when they meet the Buckeyes of Ohio State on Friday afternoon.
• The Colonials return 28 players from the 2022 squad that posted an overall record of 9-9, including an 8-2 mark in Mid-American Conference (MAC) play. RMU adds six new faces to the squad prior to the 2023 season.
• Robert Morris is led by head coach Katrina Silva, who is in her sixth season as head coach of the Colonials. She has posted an overall record of 49-28 (.636) while carding a 28-6 (.824) mark in conference play. Since joining the MAC in 2021, Silva has recorded a 23-12 (.657) overall record and an impressive 18-2(.900) mark in MAC play.
• In a poll of Mid-American head coaches, the Colonials were picked as the preseason favorite heading into the 2023 season. RMU received 46 points, while defending MAC champions, Central Michigan were tabbed second (43 points) and Kent State was selected third (32).
• As a team and being in the MAC conference for two seasons, the Colonials have been at the top in most statistical categories. RMU paced the conference in shots per game averaging 31.82, while placing 23.71 shots on goal which was first in the conference last season.
• Featuring and returning the MAC Goalkeeper of the Year in Jamie Keller, the Colonials were defensively stout in MAC action. RMU posted 9.50 goals against average while carding a 636 save percentage last season.

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The All-Time Series (Ohio State) – It'll be the eighth all-time meeting between the Colonials and Buckeyes come Friday afternoon. Robert Morris and Ohio State first met in 2007 in Moon Township, where the Buckeyes registered a 13-5 win. Ohio State has won all 7 meetings in the series, including a 17-5 victory last season. Five different Colonials registered a goal in Columbus. Jordan Anderson got RMU on the board in the first quarter before Bailey Christianson and Jerica Obee registered goals in the second. Colleen Tifft and Mackenzie Bell topped off the scoring for the Colonials in the fourth quarter.

Scouting The Buckeyes – Ohio State begins the 2023 campaign by featuring a brand new stadium this spring. The Buckeyes posted a 9-7 overall record last season, including a 2-4 mark in Big Ten play. In a selection of seven Big Ten coaches, Ohio State was selected to finish seventh in the conference. Nicole Ferrara, Chloë Johnson and Ava Keethler have all been selected Big Ten Players to Watch for the 2023 campaign. Ferrara is in her second year as a captain for the Buckeyes. She was a Second Team All-Big Ten selection last season after leading Ohio State with 21 assists and 52 points, ranking second with 31 goals. Johnson, who plays attack, was an IWLCA West/Midwest All-Region First Team selection as a draw specialist and a Second Team All-Big Ten honoree last year. Keethler earned Second Team All-Big Ten accolades last season in her first year as a starter on defense for the Buckeyes. She had 14 ground balls, a draw control and seven caused turnovers while starting all 16 games.

Vets & Experience – Entering the 2023 campaign, Robert Morris will feature one of the most experienced groups in the MAC. The Colonials return 28 players, including five All-MAC honorees. MAC Goalkeeper of the Year Jamie Keller, earned First Team honors while starting in net for all 18 games of the 2022 season. In her first year as a starting keeper, she held a .636 save percentage in MAC play, and paced the league in SV%, saves, and saves per game. Sophomore Jenna Irwin returns after having a prolific freshman campaign, earning her All-MAC First Team accolades. In 17 starts last season, Irwin led the Colonials offense with 34 goals while collecting four assists for a total of 38 points. RMU also returns a trio of second team all-conference players from 2022, including Colleen Tifft, Jordan Anderson, and Jerica Obee.

New Faces – The Colonials will welcome six newcomers to Moon Township this season, all true freshmen. A relatively diverse group, RMU's first years come to campus from five different states including Ohio, Maryland, Michigan, South Carolina and Pennsylvania. Emma Marchan, Eliana LaMange, Maya Metz, Samantha Brothers, Emma Hawks, and Olivia Usatch will all be in their first season in the blue and white.

Run It Back – Joining the Mid-American Conference in 2021, the Colonials have been making a name for themselves the past two seasons. In their first season, RMU was crowned champions and earned their first ever berth in the NCAA Tournament. In 2022, RMU made an appearance in its second consecutive MAC Championship game, falling to Central Michigan.

Oh Captain, My Captain - Robert Morris announced its captains for the upcoming season. Graduate student Kelsey Nelson and senior Colleen Tifft were chosen to take the captaincy for the upcoming campaign. Nelson was a leading midfielder for the Colonials in 2022, ranking fifth with 26 points after carding 18 goals and eight assists for RMU. The two-way standout was productive on the defensive side as well, collecting 24 ground balls, causing seven turnovers, and winning 29 draws controls. Tifft is coming off a very productive year for RMU, earning 2022 All-MAC Second Team accolades. The Liverpool, N.Y., native finished fourth on the team after boasting a 37-point season, tallying the second most goals with 31. Tifft also added six assists while firing 91 shots, 70 of them coming on goal. A true two-way midfielder, the senior was also a force on the defensive end, grabbing 19 ground balls, causing 16 turnovers and winning 13 draw controls.

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