GAME 20
RMU (8-11 / 4-2 MAC) at MARYLAND (12-5 / 4-2 #ACC)
Friday, May 10 | 12:00 p.m.
Maryland Lacrosse/Field Hockey Complex | College Park, Md.
 
Opening Draw

• The RMU women's lacrosse team is prepared to take on Maryland in the first round of the NCAA Women's Lacrosse Championships on Friday afternoon.
• Most recently, the Colonials defeated Detroit Mercy 14-10, to become MAC Champions for the second time in program history.
• Isabella Teal and Colleen Tifft each led RMU with three goals as Tifft scored the go ahead tally in the late stages of the fourth quarter. Also, Julia Koterwas, Samantha Brothers, and Chelsea Coleman had two goals against the Titans. Eliana LaMange and Lilli Hadden rounded out the Colonials scoring with one goal apiece.
• Sydney Riker stood tall in net for RMU as she had 11 saves against Detroit Mercy while holding the Titans to just four goals in the second half.
• This will be the first matchup in series history between Maryland and RMU. The Colonials have only played one Big Ten team in their history which is Ohio State.
• At the conclusion of the MAC Tournament, Chelsea Coleman was named Tournament MVP after posting seven points, four goals, three assists, and two caused turnovers against Eastern Michigan and Detroit Mercy.
   

HOW WE GOT HERE – The Colonials have had a tale of two seasons wrapped in one as RMU got off to a 0-6 start before turning the tide during conference play. RMU finished MAC play with a 4-2 record and have currently rattled off five straight wins to get them to the NCAA tournament. Included in RMU's five straight wins are Duquesne, Detroit Mercy, Youngstown State, and Eastern Michigan twice.

SCOUTING THE TERPS – Maryland comes into the NCAA Tournament as the fourth seed as they finished the season with a 12-5 overall record and a 4-2 mark in Big Ten play. The Terps boast one of the top offenses in the country as they're led by Eloise Clevinger who has 73 points off of 24 goals and a team-high 49 assists. Attacker Hannah Leubecker leads Maryland with 49 goals along with 80 shots on goal. Last season, the Terps made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament before falling to #7 seed James Madison, 15-14.

NCAA TOURNAMENT APPEARANCES – This is the second NCAA Tournament appearance for the Colonials as the first was after the 2021 season when RMU won the MAC outright. In that first NCAA Tournament, the Colonials faced off against then #1 seed Notre Dame, falling 16-0. The winner of this Friday's matchup will move on to the second round and face off against the winner of James Madison and Penn State.