Robert Morris Bucks Bison in Opener
from press release
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Robert Morris University
women's lacrosse team open the 2011 season with a road win against
Bucknell, 9-5.
The Colonials (1-0, 0-0) used a strong second half to knock off the
Bison (1-2, 0-0), with three unanswered goals following halftime
and never looked back. Colleen O'Donnell (Portland, Ore. / St.
Mary's Academy) scored three second-half goals to lead the
Colonials to the season opening win.
Bucknell took the early lead with goal from Ali Carey at the 26:42
mark of the first half. Kaleigh Gibbons (Candia, N.H. / Manchester
Central) tied the game 1:40 later. Cara Hernandez (New Albany, Ohio
/ New Albany) gave Robert Morris its first lead of the season
scoring with 17:46 left in the half while Ashley Trombetta
(Sykesville, Md. / Century) picked up the assist. Bucknell tied the
game with a goal from Julia Braun on a free position shot at the
13:36 mark of the first half. Katelyn Miller gave the Bison a 3-2
lead with 12:49 left in the first frame. Rachel Engel (Pittsburgh,
Pa. / Upper St. Clair) tied the game at three with 9:47 left in the
first half.
Robert Morris took a lead it would not surrender with the first
goal from O'Donnell at the 23:11 mark of the second half. Lauren
Roberts (Baldwinsville, N.Y. / C.W. Baker) gave the Colonials a 5-3
lead in the second stanza. Gibbons netted her second goal of the
game with 16:16 of the second stanza. Andrea Feldman cut into the
Robert Morris lead at 14:31 but O'Donnell quickly pushed the lead
back to three with her second goal of the game at 11:58 of the
second. The Bison netted their final goal with 4:02 left in the
second half to cut the RMU lead to two but that was as close as
Bucknell would get. O'Donnell complete her hat trick with 2:43 left
in regulation Roberts closed the scoring with 1:39 left with
O'Donnell picking up the assist.
Kaitlin Pentz (Sykesville, Md. / Century) posted nine saves in net
for the Colonials while the freshman earned her first career win in
net. The Colonials outshot the Bison 29-21 and posted solid
clear numbers going 19-for-22 on clear attempts. Completing her
solid opening day performance, O'Donnell led the game in ground
balls with five.
Robert Morris returns to action with its home opener at noon
Saturday against Navy at Joe Walton Stadium.
Game Notes
- Seven of the 13 Colonials who saw action Sunday were freshman
seeing their first collegiate action.
- The win for Robert Morris against Bucknell is the second
consecutive for RMU vs. the Bison.
- Collen O'Donnell's hat trick is the first for the Colonials in a
season opener since Emily Tomlinson and Kara Blakeley each recorded
one on Feb. 22, 2009.
- The season opening win for Robert Morris is the first for the
Colonials since they knocked off Cincinnati Feb. 29 to open the
2008 season.
