Moon Township, Pa. - The Youngstown State women's lacrosse team couldn't overcome a slow start against Robert Morris as they fell 12-6 at Joe Walton Stadium on Wednesday.
The Penguins fall to 4-9 on the season and 2-2 in Mid-American Conference play while the Colonials improve to 5-7 overall and 3-1 in conference play.
Erin Clark and Tristen Chang delivered an impressive connection in the game, linking on four of the Penguins' six goals. Clark and Chang finished with two goals and two assists apiece for four points each, a career-high for Chang.
Taylor Bumstead also found the back of the net twice for Youngstown State while Jordan Miller earned an assist. Bumstead led the Penguins in draw controls with four.
Jocelyn Fike and Kayla Stecker each caused two turnovers on the day as the Guins led the caused turnover margin 8-6. Clark led YSU in ground balls with three.
In the cage, Mikaela Staranko made eight saves while giving up 9 goals for a .471 save percentage. Jacqueline Cornell came into the game midway through the third quarter and made six saves while only allowing three goals for a .667 save percentage.
Leading the Colonials' scoring effort was Colleen Tifft with four goals while Lilli Hadden scored three.
It was a slow start for the Penguins as they remained scoreless through the first quarter. YSU also delivered a good defensive start before RMU hit two quick goals at the end of the first quarter to take a 2-0 lead into the second.
At the start of the second quarter, the Colonials' offense saw four different scorers find the back of the net to extend their lead to 6-0. It wasn't until the 7:56 mark of the second quarter when the Guins found the back of the net as Bumstead scored off a free-position attempt for her fifth score of the season.
YSU made it back-to-back goals as Clark found Chang for their first connection and points of the day to cut RMU's lead to 6-2 with 3:57 to play until halftime.
The Colonials found the back of the net with 14 ticks left in the first half to take a 7-2 lead over the Penguins into halftime.
Robert Morris scored two unanswered goals to start the second half before the Guins' offense got the spark it needed, scoring three unanswered goals to cut RMU's lead to four, 9-5, at the 2:15 mark of the third quarter. During the run, a Bumstead goal was sandwiched by two connections between Clark and Chang as they each picked up a goal and an assist.
The fourth quarter saw another connection between Chang and Clark with 5:05 remaining in the game as Clark scored her 25th goal of the season. Two RMU goals in the fourth made the final score 12-6 Colonials.
The Penguins will return home on Saturday as they go for the season sweep over Akron at Farmers National Bank Field. First draw is set for 1 p.m.
