MOON TOWNSHIP– After a conference opening win over Youngstown State, the Robert Morris women’s lacrosse team looked to continue their winning ways at home against a tough opponent at home Kent State.

The Colonials fell by a score of 13-10, dropping them to a .500 record in conference play.

“I think we came out a little flat today,” Head Coach Katrina Silva said during a postgame interview. “We play Wednesdays and Saturdays in this conference. It’s definitely hard to go to school thinking that ‘I have a lacrosse game today and I have to be ready.’ We just need to come out, whether it is a Wednesday or Saturday. We have it in us. We just need to dial it up every time.”

One of the keys to the game was the draw controls. From the start, the Golden Flashes dominated and controlled 19 draws to the Colonials’ eight.

“The draw was the key today,” Silva said. “We needed to win more draws than we did. 50/50 ground balls, they beat us in that as well. They were a formidable opponent. Draws, ground balls. We need to change those. The good thing about losing is that you learn something. [If] you don’t learn something to get better, shame on us.”

The Colonials seemed to not get the luck on their side, having multiple shots hitting off the iron.

“It seemed like every shot we needed, when we needed it to go, it went off a pipe,” Silva said.

In the first quarter, reigning MAC Offensive Player of the Week, Coleen Tifft continued her run from last week, scoring less than 30 seconds into the game to take an early Colonial lead. Chelsea Coleman and Gia Anthony added to the scoresheet in the quarter as well.

However, the reigning MAC Defensive Player of the Week, Jamie Keller was replaced in the second quarter by Sydney Riker.

Keller had four saves on 10 shots, while Riker had five saves on 12 shots.

“I thought Sydney did what I need to ask,” Coach Silva said. “She made the first save. She made the saves when she needed to and that’s really important. When you’re a goalie going in, you can’t let the next ball go in. That’s what happened. The ball got in a few time times and we had to make a change. Sydney went in and did a good job. We have to go into this next game going up and not down.”

The second quarter was low-scoring with only three goals scored in the frame with Kelsey Nelson being the only goalscorer for RMU.

But once the teams came back from half, it was all Golden Flashes as they outscored the Colonials 4-2 to take their largest lead of the game.

It was back and forth in the fourth as the Colonials came out firing, scoring two quick goals in hopes of a comeback. The Golden Flashes came back with two goals of their own.

Robert Morris had one more gasp for a come-from-behind victory. Lilli Hadden scored one with six minutes left in the game and Kelsey Nelson scored on a free position, shot just thirty seconds later.

It was too little too late, however, as the Flashes took care of their possessions as Emily Bond scored to put the final nail in the coffin.

Chelsea Coleman scored three goals in the loss, improving her goalscoring total to 19.

“I love that kid. Who wouldn’t,” Coach Silva said. “She’s a dog. She fights and fights and fights. [I] couldn’t be more proud of her and her individual effort today. She’s great. We love her.”

Fresh off the loss, Silva looks to the future for the rematch against the Flashes on Apr. 15.

“We’re going to play them in 11 days so we’ll see them again. We’re ready for round two,” Silva said.

The Colonials will play Detroit Mercy on Saturday at 4 p.m. before returning home and playing Youngstown State at home next Wednesday Apr. 12.