The Robert Morris University women's lacrosse team returns to the friendly confines of Joe Walton Stadium Tuesday when they host Akron in their MAC home opener at 1:00 p.m. COLONIAL WLAX PREVIEW ROBERT MORRIS (5-2-0, 1-0 MAC) VS AKRON (3-2, 1-1 MAC) Tuesday, March 16 at 1:00 p.m. Pittsburgh, Pa. LIVE STREAM LIVE STATS via Sidearm LAST TIME OUT RMU closed out a four-game road swing with a loss to the Cincinnati Bearcats last Wednesday, 16-7. Despite out-scoring the Bearcats in the second half, a 13-3 first half deficit proved too tall a mountain to climb for RMU after falling behind to start off the game. Clio Kerr scored twice in the loss, giving her multiple goals in a game for the third time in four games. OPPOSITION RESEARCH Akron is 3-2 on the year and coming off of a 9-8 loss to Kent State last Saturday in Kent. In just their second year of existence as a Division I program, RMU and Akron faced off last season in what was the third ever game in program history for the Zips, an 18-4 loss to the Colonials at Joe Walton Stadium. R-Freshman attack Alexis Kiefer has been the focal point of Akron's offense this season, as she leads the Zips with 14 goals in five games including two last week against KSU. KNOW BOBBY MO Colonials are 5-2 on the season. RMU opens its home MAC schedule Tuesday against Akron. RMU is 1-0 all time vs. Akron, defeating them last year 18-4. Graduate attack Mackenzie Gandy passed Ashley Levering '09 earlier this season for first place on the all-time scoring list with 180 career points. Gandy is also close to breaking several other program records this season, needing seven goals and 12 assists to pass Jenn Collins '09 and Levering for most all time in each category. Melanie Gandy is just ten assists shy of breaking the record as well, while defender Kelley Colegrove needs 20 caused turnovers to pass Colleen O'Donnell '12 for most in program history. Clio Kerr has scored multiple goals in three of her last four games. Jordan Anderson is currently riding a six-game goal streak as well. Several RMU freshmen have already scored their first career NCAA tallies this season. Olivia Rupert scored against Liberty while Kathleen Kelley and Isabelle Robarge netted their firsts against Gardner-Webb. Lilli Hadden scored her first two against Kent State last Wednesday. RMU was picked to finish second in the MAC in the preseason coaches' poll, earning two first-place votes. Central Michigan took the top spot with four first-place votes, with Kent State coming in third. Goalie Katelyn Miller has started every game for the Colonials since arriving on campus four years ago, a remarkable streak of 66 in a row. Junior Jamie Keller has also seen significant minutes in relief this season, including playing 50 of 60 minutes vs. Butler in a ten-save performance. The Colonials will boast an expanded squad in 2021 that includes six graduate students, seven total seniors, six juniors, five sophomores and twelve freshmen. Robert Morris welcomes back six graduate students for their last go-around with the program, a class which includes their three top scorers in Mackenzie Gandy, Melanie Gandy and R-Sr. Clio Kerr. Ground ball leaders Madison Burke and Kelly Colegrove also make their return, as do free-position goals leaders Thalia Zolis and Shea McArdle. The Colonials will see a mix of new and familiar foes as they join the MAC in 2021, They are 4-0 all-time against Kent State, 1-0 against Akron, 2-0 all-time against Central Michigan and 4-1 all-time against Detroit-Mercy meeting the latter two for the last time during the 2017 campaign. They will play first-year Youngstown State as well. For a full list of all-time team records and stats, click here. THE SILVA FILE Entering her fourth season at the helm of the Colonials, Katrina Silva brings 14 years of Division I head coaching experience to the table. Before taking over the program in 2018, Silva served as an RMU assistant coach for five years and a volunteer assistant for one. Previous to her time in Moon Township, Silva led the lacrosse programs at Virginia Tech (four years) and Colgate (seven), in addition to Division III Roanoke College. A goalie in her playing days, she was the 1993 Southeastern Conference defensive player of the year for Towson. Silva will be joined by the returning Cacki Helmer and Chelsea Rosiek. FOLLOW THE COLONIALS In addition to reports and videos on RMUColonials.com, check out Twitter and Instagram for news and updates throughout the season.