Youngstown State University
Robert Morris
Women's Lacrosse Opens MAC Tournament Play Thursday Against Robert Morris
5/3/2022 4:14:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
The Youngstown State women's lacrosse team is set to open the inaugural 2022 Mid-American Conference Tournament against the second-seed Robert Morris on Thursday, May 5, at the CMU Lacrosse/Soccer Complex in Mount Pleasant, Mich. First draw against the Colonials will be at 4 p.m., and the game will be broadcast live on Chippewas All-Access. The tournament is hosted by the top overall seed Central Michigan.
The Penguins are the third seed in the tournament after earning a share of the MAC's regular-season title with a 10-7 overall record and an 8-2 mark in conference play. At 10-7, YSU has set a new school record for most wins for a season in program history after posting a pair of wins during the program's inaugural season in 2021.
The Robert Morris Series
YSU and Robert Morris split the home-and-home series during the 2022 regular season, each taking a game apiece as the away team. Most recently, the Penguins' victory over the Colonials during both teams' regular-season finale on April 30 allowed the Penguins to capture their first regular season conference championship in program history, along with the program's inaugural victory over the Colonials.
Prior, Robert Morris edged the Penguins during the teams' two meetings in 2021.
About the Colonials
Robert Morris ended the regular season with an 8-8 overall record and an 8-2 record in MAC play. The Colonials entered their final two games of the schedule with an unblemished 8-0 record, but dropped their last two appearances to Central Michigan and YSU.
Second on the team in goals with 15, junior attacker Jerica Obee leads the Colonials in both assists (15) and points (40), while attempting the fourth-most shots (58). The Severn, Ontario, native made an appearance in all 16 regular-season games for the Colonials, making 15 starts. Junior Jordan Anderson owns a team-best 81 draw controls on the year, which is good for second-most across the MAC. Defensively, Madison Griffin holds team-high marks in caused turnovers (35) and ground balls (48).
Senior goalkeeper Jamie Keller played in and started all 16 games for the Colonials on the regualr-season campaign, totaling 140 saves across 454 total shots faced. Keller is fourth in the conference in overall save percentage with a her .420 mark.
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.
Team Numbers
- Natalie Calandra-Ryan leads the team in goals scored (63), draw controls (87), ground balls (37) and in total points (85). She is second on the team in assists (22).
- Erin Clark owns a team-best mark for assists (33) and is second on the team in total points (67). She's grabbed 52 draw controls, which is second-most on the team, and has also netted the third-most goals (34).
- Ali Korin, with an impressive 42 goals through the last nine games, owns the second-most goals scored for the Penguins during their 17-game regular-season schedule with 52.
- YSU boasts a .749 shot-on-goal percentage, capitalizing on 394-of-526 total shots on goal.
- The Penguins are currently outscoring their opponents during fourth quarters by an 11-goal margin, 60-49, while also outshooting opponents during the period, 132-104.
- YSU is 58-of-119 on free-position attempts through 17 games, for a .487 percentage. 58 of the Penguins' 232 goals scored on the season have come off successful free-position attempts.
Conference Comparisons
- The Penguins sit atop the MAC team standings in assists per game (5.53), and are slated second in goals per game (13.65) and points per game (19.18).
- Calandra-Ryan holds the top spot in the MAC in goals per game (3.65), points per game (4.88) and shots per game (8.29).
- Clark is ranked first in assists per game (1.94), third in points per game (4.06) and averages the eighth-most goals per game (2.13).
- Korin sits third in the MAC in goals per game (3.06).
- Clarke leads the league in the saves per game (9.53) and is slated second in overall save percentage (.435) with 162 saves through 17 games on the season.
Conference Standouts
Calandra-Ryan and Clarke were selected as the MAC Lacrosse offensive and defensive Players of the Week for their performances in the program's regular-season finale against Robert Morris on April 30, the conference announced on May 3.
With the honor, Calandra-Ryan collects her second conference player of the week selection in as many weeks and for the third time during the 2022 season overall. Calandra-Ryan remains the only player in program history to be selected for the weekly award on multiple occasions.
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
With a victory over Robert Morris in the conference semi's, YSU would return to the field on Saturday, May 7, at 1 p.m., to take on the winner of Thursday's other semi-final contest between Central Michigan and Kent State for the MAC tournament title.
For news and updates throughout the 2022 women's lacrosse season, follow @YSUwlax on Twitter.
