Spring Seasons in Review

MEN’S GOLF SEASON IN REVIEW

Robert Morris had its spring season cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic but competed in seven tournaments overall in 2019-20 under 19th-year head coach Jerry Stone

In its only spring tournament, senior Kyle Grube tied for second individually at the Lonnie Barton Invitational in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Grube carded a two-day score of 146 at the Lonnie Barton Invitational, including a 68 (-4) on the final 18 holes

RMU claimed the team title at the Towson Fall Invitational with a team score of 289, two strokes ahead of Youngstown State

Senior Max Palmer claimed the first individual title of his illustrious career, matching a career low with a 68 (-4)

The team title extended a streak of consecutive seasons with a tournament victory to 11, and have won 23 total competitions under Stone’s leadership

KYLE GRUBE

MAX PALMER COMPLETING A LEGACY 2016-2020

CHASE MILLER

Max Palmer concluded his career as one of the top golfers in program history in 2019-20. In addition to helping lead the Colonials to the 2019 NEC Tournament championship and a bid in the NCAA Tournament, his steady and consistent play helped the Colonials throughout his career. A look at some of his accomplishments … NEC SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD • Is the only RMU student-athlete in program history to be named NEC Rookie of the Year (2017) as well as NEC Golf of the Year (2019)

A three-time All-NEC selection (2017, 2018, 2019), Palmer owns the RMU single-season record for top five finishes with five, which came in 2018-19

Ranks second all-time at Robert Morris in stroke average (74.07), rounds under par (18) and top five finishes (12) Concluded his career ranked third in program history in top 10 finishes (17) Palmer’s career low round was a 68, which he carded three times as a member of the Colonials

RYAN SMITH

SPRING SEASON IN REVIEW

AUSTIN POPOVICH

BRAD MCCULLEY

FROM BOBBY MO TO PRO

In 2020, Robert Morris had the highest representation of any college or university in the National Lacrosse League (NLL), with a total of 11 former Colonials playing for 10 different teams. Tyson Gibson, a 2019 alumnus, made history by being selected with the number one overall pick by the expansion New York Riptide in the Entry Draft Sept. 17, 2019. Gibson was later named NLL Rookie of the Year, and competed for the Philadelphia Barrage in the 2020 Major League Lacrosse (MLL) summer season. MEN’S LACROSSE

Under the direction of ninth-year head coach Andrew McMinn, Robert Morris recorded a record of 4-2 (.667) before having its season canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic

The Colonials opened their 2020 season with a 22-10 victory at Canisius as senior attack Ryan Smith established an RMU singlegame record for points (10) while tying a the single-game mark for goals (8)

Robert Morris closed the season on a three-game winning streak, earning a 15-11 win over High Point in its only home game of the 2020 campaign at Joe Walton Stadium

Tied, 10-10, in the closing seconds against Marquette, senior midfielder Brad McCulley scored his third goal of the afternoon with 4.7 seconds to play to lift the Colonials to a victory in what would be their last game of the season

In six games, Smith led RMU in scoring with 28 points thanks to 17 goals and a team-high 11 assists

Senior midfielder Austin Popovich owned a team-high 18 goals in 2020 and added nine assists to finish second for the Colonials in scoring with 27 points

Popovich finished with a season-high seven points in road victories over Canisius and Detroit Mercy

In the win over the Golden Griffins, Popovich notched five goals and a pair of assists, while he compiled four goals and three helps in the triumph over the Titans

Smith will return in 2021 and enters the season ranked sixth alltime in program history for career points (146), goals (94) and assists (52)

Junior attack Corson Kealey played in three games in 2020, scoring a goal and adding two assists and will enter 2021 ranked 10th all-time in program history for points per game (2.39)

SPRING SEASON IN REVIEW

WOMEN’S LACROSSE

RMU posted an overall record of 5-2 (.714) in 2020 under thirdyear head coach Katrina Silva before having its season canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic

The Colonials were a perfect 4-0 at Joe Walton Stadium in 2020 and enter the 2021 campaign with a nine-game winning streak at home dating back to the 2019 season

Senior attack Mackenzie Gandy owned a team-high 36 points for Robert Morris in 2020, racking up team highs in both goals (19) and assists (17)

Mackenzie’s twin sister, senior attack Melanie Gandy, finished second for RMU in scoring in 2020 with 31 points courtesy of 16 goals and 15 helpers

The Colonials established a season high in goals with 18 in backto-back home victories over Kent State and Akron at Joe Walton Stadium

Senior goalkeeper Katelyn Miller finished the 2020 campaign with a 5-2 (.714) record and registered 48 saves for the Colonials

In its final contest of the 2020 season, a 15-8 win over Butler at Joe Walton Stadium, Mackenzie Gandy posted a season-high eight points thanks to five goals and three assists

Mackenzie Gandy, who will return for the Colonials in 2021, ranks second all-time in school history with 176 points and is just four shy of becoming the program’s scoring leader

MACKENZIE GANDY

KATELYN MILLER

DANA VATAKIS

NATALIE HIGGINS

SOFTBALL

Led by second-year head coach Jexx Varner, Robert Morris finished with an overall record of 8-11 (.421) in 2020 before having its season cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic

RMU took part in four tournaments in 2020, including the Blue Hose Invitational, the Runnin’ Bulldog Softball Tournament, the Seahawk Softball Challenge and the Clearwater Spring Break Invitational

Senior Natalie Higgins hit .349 (22-for-63) for the Colonials in 2020 while starting all 19 games, leading the team in doubles (6) while tying for the team lead in home runs (3) and RBI (12)

Senior Madison Riggle also hit three home runs and drove in 12 for Robert Morris while hitting .308 (16-for-52) on the year

Senior outfielder Briana Bunner paced the Colonials in runs (10) in 19 games and on the season hit .339 (20-for-59)

Over her four-year career, Bunner started each of her 151 games and provided a .265 average (121-for-457) to go along with 34 doubles, seven home runs and 59 RBI

Higgins is tied for fourth all-time in program history with 35 career doubles, while Bunner ranks sixth

From the circle, sophomore Dana Vatakis appeared in 12 games, including 10 starts, and posted an earned run average of 2.54, striking out 46 in 69 innings

Higgins will return for Robert Morris in 2021 and in owning a career batting average of .317 (152-for-480) will look to become just the fourth student-athlete in program history to accumulate 200 career hits

In her final season with the Colonials in 2020, senior Taryn Miller started all 19 games, producing a .321 (17-for-53) average with four doubles and six RBI