Moon Township, Pa. – Despite being tied at halftime, the Robert Morris women's lacrosse team dropped a 15-7 decision to UMBC on Saturday afternoon at Joe Walton Stadium in non-conference action.

With the loss, the Colonials fall to 0-4 overall on the season. Meanwhile, the Retrievers improve to 4-2 overall in 2023.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
It was a back and forth affair in the first quarter as UMBC opened the scoring at the 8:27 mark. Just 22 seconds later, senior midfielder Colleen Tifft evened the scoring with an unassisted goal with 8:05 remaining. The Colonials would extend its lead when sophomore midfielder Chelsea Coleman and junior Lilli Hadden both found the back of the net, 3-1.  The Retrievers would trim the RMU advantage before Coleman took a pass from Tifft and beat goalkeeper Isabella Fontana to stretch the Colonials lead, 4-2. UMBC responded at the 2:14 mark when Claire Bockstie netted one of her six goals on the afternoon before senior Jerica Obee converted on a free-position shot. The Retrievers would net another goal as RMU held a 5-4 advantage after one.

It was a slow start to the second quarter as both teams combined for just three shots in the first five minutes. UMBC would knot the score at 5-5 at the 9:48 mark when Bockstie carded her third goal of the half. Midway through the first half, RMU regained the lead when senior Julia Koterwas tallied her first score of the afternoon off an assist from Coleman. The Retrievers would respond just over a minute later to tie the score at 6-6. UMBC continued to pepper the net as they registered 13 shots in the quarter, nine coming on goal as graduate student goalkeeper Jamie Keller collected seven saves.

In the second half, UMBC took control as they outscored the Colonials 9-1, while registering 18 total shots, with 14 coming on goal. The Retrievers were a perfect 10-for-10 on clears and out did RMU in draw controls 10-2 in the final 30 minutes.

STAYIN STEADY
Just four weeks into the season, the Colonials have some consistency on the offensive. Jerica Obee has registered a goal in all four games this season, carding her first multi-goal game against UMBC. Chelsea Coleman has been on fire the last three week, recording two or more goals in three consecutive games. Lilli Hadden has tallied a score in three straight games, while Julia Koterwas has netted a score in three of the last four contests, while collecting a point in all four. Senior Colleen Tifft continues to set up her teammates as she has totaled an assist in four straight and carding a goal in three of the last four.

KEEP SAVING
Graduate student keeper Jamie Keller tallied a career-high 16 saves against the Retrievers on Saturday afternoon. UMBC fired shots at Keller all afternoon as she faced 44 total shots with 31 coming on goal. Keller collected seven saves in the second quarter alone as the Retrievers fired 13 shots at her. She recorded 11 of her 16 saves in the second half as she faced 26 shots in that span.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Five different Colonials netted a goal led by Coleman and Obee, who each tallied a two each, while Coleman collected an assist as well. Tifft carded her score and assist in the first quarter, while Koterwas and Hadden registered goals in the loss. UMBC outshot RMU 44-21, while placing 31 shots on goal to the Colonials 16.  

UP NEXT
RMU hits the road when they travel to Boiling Springs, North Carolina, to take on Gardner-Webb on Wednesday, March 8, with the opening draw set for 12:00 p.m.

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