Youngstown State University
Robert Morris
Women's Lacrosse Heads to Robert Morris for Regular Season Finale
4/29/2022 3:27:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
Closing its regular season slate, the Youngstown State women's lacrosse team heads to Moon Township, Penn., to clash with Mid-American Conference front-runner Robert Morris on Saturday, April 30, at Joe Walton Stadium.
First draw is scheduled for Noon. With a victory, YSU will clinch a share of the MAC regular season title.
About the Colonials
Robert Morris comes into the contest with an 8-7 overall record and is 8-1 in the MAC. The Colonials suffered their lone conference loss on April 23, falling to Central Michigan by a one-score margin, 12-11, in Mount Pleasant, Mich.
Freshman Jenna Irwin leads the Colonials in goals scored (33) and points (37).The Liverpool, N.Y., native has played in and started all 15 games for RMU on the season.
Robert Morris is led by second-year head coach Katrina Silva. Silva is currently in her eighth season with the RMU lacrosse program, acting as an assistant coach for five seasons, from 2013-17, and serving as a volunteer assistant with the program during the 2012 season. She was appointed to lead the program in 2018.
The Robert Morris Series
The Penguins are still in search for their first win against the Colonials during the program's two-year history. Robert Morris controls the all-time series record three games to none.
In the two teams' first matchup of the 2022 season at Farmers National Bank Field on March 23, the Colonials ousted the Penguins, 18-7.
Team Numbers
- Natalie Calandra-Ryan leads the team in goals scored (58), draw controls (79), ground balls (36) and in total points (77). She is second on the team in assists (19).
- Erin Clark owns a team-best mark for assists (30) and is second on the team in total points (63). She's grabbed 44 draw controls, which is second-most on the team, and has also netted the third-most goals (33).
- Ali Korin, with an impressive 35 goals through the last eight games, owns the second-most goals scored for the Penguins through 16 games on the season with 45.
- YSU boasts a .746 shot-on-goal percentage, capitalizing on 364-of-488 total shots on goal.
- The Penguins are currently outscoring their opponents during fourth quarters by a nine-goal margin, 55-46, while also outshooting opponents during the period, 123-96.
- YSU is 53-of-110 on free-position attempts through 16 games, for a .482 percentage. 53 of the Penguins' 213 goals scored during the season have come off successful free-position attempts.
Conference Comparisons
- The Penguins sit atop the MAC team standings in assists per game (5.58), and are slated second in goals per game (13.31) and points per game (18.69).
- Calandra-Ryan holds the top spot in the MAC in goals per game (3.56), points per game (4.69) and shots per game (8.13).
- Clark is ranked first in assists per game (1.87), second in points per game (4.07) and averages the sixth-most goals per game (2.20).
- Continuing to climb the statistical leaderboard, Korin enters Saturday's contest ranked third in the MAC in goals per game (2.81).
- Clarke leads the league in the saves per game (9.63) and in overall save percentage (.443) with 154 saves through 16 games on the season.
Last Time Out
Continuing their ongoing four-game conference win streak, the Penguins bested in-state rival Kent State in its regular-season home finale on Senior day at Farmers National Bank Field, 18-11.
Calandra-Ryan netted five goals across nine shots on goal to lead all scorers during the contest. Calandra-Ryan now has five games this season with at least five goals scored. Adding to the already impressive stat line, Calandra-Ryan picked-up three ground balls, grabbed eight draw controls and forced three caused turnovers.
Conference Standout
Calandra-Ryan was tabbed the MAC Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week for her combined performances against conference opponents Central Michigan and Kent State, the conference announced April 27.
Calandra-Ryan remains the second different Penguin to be selected for the weekly honor during the 2022 season and the first player in program history to be recognized more than once.
Penguins Picked Fifth
YSU was slated fifth in the 2022 MAC Preseason Coaches Poll. YSU received 13 points for the fifth-place polling.
2022 MAC Lacrosse Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Robert Morris – 32 points (3 first place votes)
2. Central Michigan – 31 points (2)
3. Akron – 22 points (1)
4. Kent State – 21 points
5. Youngstown State – 13 points
6. Detroit Mercy – 7 points
Up Next
The Penguins are set to compete in the inaugural 2022 MAC Championships next weekend, May 5-7, which will be hosted by the MAC regular-season champion.
For news and updates throughout the 2022 women's lacrosse season, follow @YSUwlax on Twitter.
