MOON TOWNSHIP– The crown of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) would be won at Joe Walton Stadium this year after a thrilling Robert Morris victory over Central Michigan in overtime just two weeks ago. These two teams would meet in the same spot in a rematch of the 2022 MAC Championship where the Chippewas would hold on to become back-to-back champs.

Despite scoring first the Colonials would allow the Chippewas to establish a large lead as Central Michigan would score 3 goals to end the first quarter, and then kick off the second quarter with four more goals to jump to a 7-1 lead.

Coach Silva expected Central Michigan to be quick.

“We knew they were going to do that. Just like last game,” Silva said. “I thought there was a couple of time when I thought we were coming back, but we just did dumb things and those add up in a championship game.”

The Colonials would continue to fight back. The team would look to sophomore goalie Sydney Riker to right the ship. Riker would make 7 saves and the Colonials would get as close as 6-9 early in the third.

Central Michigan would just remain out of reach by play of Skye Deprado who scored 4 goals and Audrey Whiteside who’d score a hat-trick of her own.

Late in the fourth when score was 15-8 the Colonials would rattle of goal after goal from Hadden, Tifft, Coleman, and Irwin.

The Colonials would have all the momentum, but a Alexa Martel save and an Robert Morris turnover would seal the deal for the Chippewas as the final seconds ticked away, and would become back-to-back champs with a final score of 15-12.

Silva was extremely proud of each and every player on her team.

“We fought, we fought, we fought,” Silva said. “They didn’t care about the clock they just wanted to keep playing and you have to give a lot of respect to a group like that.”

Following the game Silva gathered the visibly upset Colonials around and gave them one last message for the team.

“I’m terrible at final speeches,” Silva said. “I say thank you and I mean it. And we got to do better. We can win these games I know we can.”

Colonials will get some time off and look to regroup. Majority of their will comeback next year, but will have some large holes to fill with loses from some key veteran leadership.