MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – The RMU women's lacrosse team fell to 2-2 on the season after a 9-3 loss to non-conference opponent Cincinnati at Joe Walton Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
 
FIRST HALF
Cincinnati put up three first-quarter goals with the Bearcats striking at 10:07, 3:14, and 2:05. The RMU offense was held scoreless in the first quarter, with the Colonials getting off just two shots, one of which came on goal.
 
In the second quarter, the Colonials finally broke through, with Lea Otts finding the back of the net off a Mia Berthoff pass for a man-up goal to put RMU on the board at 2:43 to make it 3-1 in favor of Cincinnati. RMU registered a team-high 10 shots in the second quarter, with seven of them being on-target.
 
The Colonials' defense locked down in the second quarter, holding Cincinnati scoreless while forcing five Bearcat turnovers.
 
SECOND HALF
RMU opened the second half with a goal from Taylor Cadeau, assisted by Berthoff, to cut the Bearcats' lead down to just one, with RMU trailing 3-2 with 10:58 to go. Cincinnati found the back of the net nearly five minutes later with Hailey Joy Simpson pushing the Bearcats' lead back to two. To close out the third quarter, Taylor Burkett punched one through for RMU to make it 4-3 Bearcats.
 
Cincinnati exploded for five unanswered goals in the fourth quarter, while holding the Colonials scoreless and allowing only two shots in the final frame, giving the Bearcats a 9-3 win.
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Taylor Cadeau, Taylor Burkett, and Lea Otts all recorded one goal apiece to account for the Colonials three goals on the afternoon. Mia Berthoff recorded the Colonials' two lone assists on the afternoon while also securing two draw controls and causing two turnovers. Goalie Katrina Bottomley recorded 12 ground balls to lead RMU, while Burkett and Jenna Evans were second on the team with five each.
 
In goal, Katrina Bottomley was tagged with the loss to fall to 1-2 on the season. Along with her 12 ground balls, Bottomley also recorded 12 saves while allowing nine goals on 32 shots faced.
 
As a team, RMU was outshot 32-16, with 10 of its shots coming on goal. In the turnover department, the Colonials had 23 turnovers compared to Cincinnati's 19. Cincinnati controlled the draw control department, recording 10 to the Colonials' four.
 
For Cincinnati, the Bearcats were led by Payton Kozina and Paige Selhorn, who each recorded three goals on the night. Goalkeeper Bella Kerr was credited with the save, allowing just three goals while recording seven saves.
 
UP NEXT
RMU (2-2) will head on the road next Wednesday as the Colonials travel to New York to take on St. Bonaventure at 1:00 p.m.