MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa – RMU women's lacrosse picked up their first conference victory in a thrilling comeback win over Eastern Michigan on Sunday afternoon, 10-9.

The Colonials now improve to 2-6 on the season and the Eagles drop to 4-4 overall and 0-1 in conference play.

1^st HALF
The first quarter didn't go how the Colonials had hoped as they were outshot 15-2 in the frame and trailed 4-0 after 15 minutes of play. The difference in the stanza came down to who won the loose ball as Eastern Michigan had eight ground balls compared to RMU who had two.

RMU continued to struggle offensively to begin the stanza as the Eagles capitalized on another goal to make it 5-0 at the 11:43 mark. The Colonials got their first goal of the game at the midway point as Gia Anthony was able to bury her ninth goal of the season.

2^ND HALF
The Colonials looked to flip the tide as less than two minutes into the frame Samantha Brothers found the back of the net to cut the Eagles lead to three. Eastern Michigan responded with a goal of their own but once again Brothers was able to score and keep the Colonials within striking distance. RMU would go to the final frame with a three-goal deficit.

RMU would control all facets of the game in this stanza as continuously applied pressure on Eastern Michigan's defense. The Colonials opened the frame with a free-position goal courtesy of Chelsea Coleman, however Eastern Michigan would respond with two goals of their own to make it an 8-4 game with 10:34 remaining. Over the next five minutes RMU would go on a 4-0 run to tie the game at 8 with still plenty of time remaining. Eastern Michigan broke the tie at 2:29 and the Colonials responded with Coleman's second tally of the game with just 40 seconds remaining. After a huge draw control win by Jenna Irwin, Irwin streaked down the field and put herself in position for a free-position shot with 23 seconds left in the game. Irwin drilled the shot to the back of the net as the Colonials came back and defeated Eastern Michigan, 10-9.

CARDIAC COLONIALS
The Colonials saw themselves down 6-3 entering the fourth quarter and proceeded to come back for their first conference win of the season. RMU would go on to outscore the Eagles 7-3 in the fourth quarter and outshot them 10-5. A key statistic that showed late in the game was the draw controls as RMU had nine compared to Eastern Michigan who had two.


INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Chelsea Coleman and Samantha Brothers each had two goals and one assist to lead the Colonials with three points. Jenna Irwin and Mia Berthoff also had two goals with Irwin collecting a team-high six draw controls as well. Vivian LaMange and Gia Anthony each recorded a goal while Megan Shepley came into the game during the second quarter and tallied seven saves and the win.

UP NEXT
The Colonials will go on the road next Friday when they travel to play Albany for the first time in school history. First draw is scheduled for 6 p.m. and can be seen live on ESPN+.