COLLEGE PARK, MD – RMU women's lacrosse fell to #4 seed Maryland in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, 17-1 on Friday afternoon.

The Colonials finished their season as MAC Champions for the second time in program history as well as advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in four years.

1^st HALF
The first round of the NCAA Tournament began with an RMU chance to score as Eliana LaMange put a shot on net two minutes into the game but it was corralled by Maryland's netminder, Julia Hammerschlag. Maryland didn't give the Colonials many chances after that as the Terrapins would score five first quarter goals to put RMU on their heels. RMU's Syndey Riker got tested early and often as she made six of her game-high eight saves in the first frame.

To start the second quarter, it was the Colonials who struck first as Jenna Irwin fired one to the back of the net off of a free position shot. Irwin's tally was her team-leading 37^th goal of the season as the junior attacker would be the only goal scorer for RMU in this matchup. RMU finished the first half trailing 8-1.

2^ND HALF
Maryland came out of halftime firing on all cylinders as the Terrapins had a game-high seven goals in the third quarter. RMU was held to just one shot on goal and had a team-high six turnovers in the frame.

The Colonials began the fourth quarter trailing by 15 but showed a lot of fight and ended up outshooting the Terrapins 3-2 in the quarter. RMU had a game-high three free position attempts as they crashed the net continuously in the fourth quarter.

QUOTABLES
Head Coach Courtney Grove and graduate attacker Julia Koterwas addressed the media post game and gave their thoughts on the season as a whole. Grove started her session talking about the growth of her team stating, "We continued to fight as a team throughout the season after the tough start, and that was the biggest thing coming together." Grove added, "I think the confidence level is going to be strong coming into next season, we're never satisfied so if we continue to work and gel with each other it could be a great season." Koterwas opened her statement by saying, "Coach Grove and Simmers came into this season with a lot of positivity even after the slow start, as a fifth year all I could ask for is winning a conference championship and have a chance at the national championship."

HISTORIC SEASON
The Colonials finished the 2024 campaign as MAC Champions for the second time in program history as RMU went on an impressive five-game winning streak to put themselves in position to make the NCAA Tournament. Grove won a conference championship in her first season as the last time that occurred at RMU was during the 2022 season when Craig McDonald helped guide the men's lacrosse team to the ASUN Championship title. The graduates and seniors on this women's lacrosse team finish their careers with two conference championships along with two NCAA Tournament berths and three straight MAC Tournament appearances.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Irwin scored the lone goal for RMU on her second quarter free position attempt as she also led the team with three draw controls against Maryland. Colleen Tifft finished her RMU career with a team-high three shots on goal and one caused turnover. Sydney Riker played all 60 minutes for the Colonials as she tallied a game-high eight saves along with two ground balls.


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