Robert Morris Snaps Two-Game Losing Streak
from press release
MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- The Robert Morris
University women's lacrosse team snapped a two-game losing streak
with a dominating 20-5 triumph over the Saint Francis (Pa.) Red
Flash. The Colonials scored two goals within the first minute of
the contest and never looked back to coast to the impressive win.
In the win several Colonials tallied personal bests in various
statistical categories.
The win improves the Colonials to 5-5 overall and 3-2 in the NEC,
while the Red Flash drop to 6-7 overall and 2-3 in league play.
Senior Alana Beck (Carle Place, N.Y. / Old Dominion) tied an RMU
single-game record with six goals and also added three ground balls
and one caused turnover in the victory. In addition, four other
Colonials captured career-highs in the victory. Junior Lynette
Gomez (Ocean, N.J. / Ocean Township) opened and closed the game
with a score and finished with four goals and two helpers. Her
quartet of goals and six points were both career-highs for the
junior. Sophomore Erin Finnegan (Allison Park, Pa. / Hampton)
tallied a career-high four goals, sophomore Colleen O'Donnell
(Portland, Ore. / St. Mary's Academy) registered a personal best
with five points, including three goals and two assists and senior
Ali Gibbons (Candia, N.H. / Machester) recorded a career-high three
helpers, while also adding one goal. Junior Ashley Trombetta
(Sykesville, Md. / Century) also added a trio of assists and one
goal for a four point performance.
Karly O'Brien (Rockville, Md. / Our Lady of Good Counsel) led
contest with a career-high seven draw controls and added three
ground balls, Trombetta finished the contest with a career-high
seven ground balls and O'Donnell led the game with four caused
turnovers, which tied a personal best.
Although this was Gomez's first start of the season, she went
straight to work from the opening draw by scoring the first goal of
the game just 41 seconds in on an unassisted play and then
assisting on the Colonials' second goal by O'Donnell at 1:02.
The Red Flash responded with a goal by Stephanie Toomey at the 2:07
mark, but that goal was followed by a seven goal scoring rampage by
the Colonials that put Robert Morris up 9-1 with 11:52 left to play
in the first half with Beck and Finnegan leading the surge with two
goals apiece.
The Red Flash were finally able to connect on a shot with 11:16
left to play, but the Colonials quickly regained control of the
contest with Finnegan and Beck each scoring their third goals of
the game at the 20:47 and 23:27 marks, respectively, giving RMU a
11-2 advantage. Robert Morris and Saint Francis (Pa.) each traded
goals to end the half, bringing the score to 12-3 heading into the
second half.
Robert Morris did not let up in the second half and soon added
three more goals to their collection with Gibbons having a hand in
all three scores. She scored RMU's 13th goal at 5:30 and then
assisted on Beck and Finnegan goals shortly after.
Saint Francis (Pa.) interrupted RMU's string of goals when Catherin
Helming found the net off an assist from Kate Simmons. However,
Gomez responded with back-to-back goals within four minutes of each
other to give RMU an 18-4 lead. Beck followed Gomez's pair of goals
by beating SFPA goalie Danielle Pokusa with 3:46 left to play with
O'Donnell assisting on the play.
The Red Flash were able to find the net once more with 1:48 left on
the clock, but RMU ended strongly and scored twice more in the last
minute of play to earn the 20-5 win.
Senior Erica Webb (Arnold, Md. / Broadneck) finished the contest
with five saves, while teammate Jennifer Schulze (Bel Air, Md. / C.
Milton Wright) tallied two saves. Pokusa earned eight saves for the
Red Flash.
The Colonials were successful on two-of-six free-position shots,
while the Red Flash went 0-for-3. Robert Morris gained a large
advantage in ground balls by picking up 32 to the Red Flash's
17.
Robert Morris returns to action on Saturday, April 3 when it
travels to cross-town rival Duquesne at 1:00 p.m.
