COLLEGE PARK, Md.– After starting the year 0-6, the Robert Morris women’s lacrosse team earned their second-ever NCAA Tournament berth as they faced the fourth-ranked Maryland Terrapins on Friday.
Maryland has made the NCAA Tournament every year since 1990 and has won an NCAA-high 14 national championships.
“I want to congratulate Robert Morris on a great season,” Maryland head coach Cathy Reese praised. “I know winning their conference championship was really special for them, so it was awesome for us to be able to host them today in College Park. I’m proud of our team. I think we saw contributions from everybody out there today. And it was a really great energy, which is what we’ve been shooting for.
The Colonials would fall to the Terrapins 17-1 in College Park.
Maryland senior goalie Julia Hammerschlag started her first collegiate game Friday and recorded a career-high eight saves on nine Colonial shots.
“I was really, really proud of her,” Coach Reese said. “She hasn’t had too many opportunities this year to get out there. But, we’ve spent a lot of time this week talking about doing your job and being ready to step up when your name’s called, and there’s no better example of that than [her] today.”
It was all Maryland from the opening draw, as the Terps were up 5-0 in the opening frame.
Jenna Irwin would make program history as she scored RMU’s first NCAA Tournament goal for in the second quarter. The Colonials were shutout in 2021’s tournament against Notre Dame.
“That gives them confidence, right?” Courtney Grove, head coach for RMU, said. “That shows them that they can do it and I think just getting the shot opportunities we got, and I told them that. Keep shooting. If you stop shooting, you won’t get those opportunities. It just builds them confidence and allows them to see they can do this, and they need to continue to believe in themselves.”
Maryland’s Kate Sites scored a game-high four goals. The senior had two goals all season entering Friday. Kori Edmondson and Hannah Leubecker also both had hat tricks for the Terrapins.
With the Colonials season now complete, the future still looks bright under Grove, as she has much more to prove with this program.
“This is awesome. It’s a great experience,” Coach Grove said. “I hope that the players continue to want to fight for this experience and get a great opportunity out of it. So I think it just sets the path for us to continue to be here every year.”
“This is my second time in the NCAA tournament, and the first time didn’t always go as planned,” graduate senior Julia Koterwas said. “So I think this time, my goal, and I think a lot of the team goals, was just to improve and to work hard and be competitive, and that was ultimately the goal we achieved, and I’m proud of us.”
