MOUNT PLEASANT, MI – RMU women's lacrosse won their MAC semifinal matchup against Eastern Michigan in thrilling fashion, 12-11.
With the win, the Colonials have advanced to their third straight MAC Championship game and will take on Detroit Mercy.
1st HALF
Eastern Michigan came out the gate with an offensive force as they tallied the first two goals of the game within one minute of each other. Unfortunately for the Eagles their lead wouldn't last long as
Jenna Irwin and
Samantha Brothers notched back-to-back goals to even the contest at two. The first quarter continued to be offensively heavy as the Eagles scored two more quick goals followed by an Irwin tally to finish the frame.
Irwin continued her strong early part in the game as she recorded a hat trick by the 11:37 mark in the second quarter. Eastern Michigan managed to outscore the Colonials 3-2 in the second frame as
Colleen Tifft scored a woman up goal with six minutes remaining in the quarter. RMU trailed the Eagles 7-5 going into the halftime break.
2ND HALF
The Colonials came out of the break firing on all cylinders with two straight goals from Irwin and
Julia Koterwas. Both teams continued to trade goals but it was RMU who held the Eagles to two goals in the third frame. The third quarter was the first occasion in which the Colonials outscored the Eagles in a single quarter.
RMU opened the final quarter trailing by one goal but that wouldn't last long as
Chelsea Coleman and Koterwas each tallied a goal to give the Colonials their first lead of the game. With 7:36 remaining in the contest, Eastern Michigan knotted the game at 10 as Sydney Lawrence scored her game-high sixth goal of the game. It was with five minutes left in the game when Tifft took and scored two straight goals to put the game on ice.
CHAMPIONSHIP BOUND
This will be the third straight season in which the Colonials have advanced to the MAC Championship game. The previous two occasions have come against Central Michigan and resulted in losses for the Colonials. The championship game on Saturday will be the first MAC postseason matchup between Robert Morris and Detroit Mercy.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Jenna Irwin led the Colonials with four goals while recording three of those in the first half.
Colleen Tifft had three goals in the game with two tallies coming in the final minutes of the game.
Julia Koterwas and
Chelsea Coleman each had two goals while Coleman added an assist as well.
Samantha Brothers rounded out the scoring with her lone goal in the first period for RMU.
UP NEXT
The Colonials will compete for the MAC Championship on Saturday, May 4 at 12:00 p.m. against Detroit Mercy. Live stream and statistics will be provided on the MAC website.
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