MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. / April 26, 2012 – Three members of the Robert Morris women’s lacrosse team earned All-Northeast Conference honors on Thursday night including senior Colleen O’Donnell, who closed out her college career with her second-straight All-NEC First Team accolade. Talia Waskowicz earned All-NEC Second Team honors after leading the Colonials in scoring this year while Erin Mossop was named to the league’s All-Rookie Team.

“I’m very proud of these girls and of our entire team for their performance this season. Our All-NEC honorees are very deserving of this honor,” RMU Women’s Lacrosse Coach Katy Phillips said. “We ended the season with a strong showing, and we have a lot of talent coming back next season. We’re excited to get back on the field next year.”

O’Donnell (Portland, Ore. / St. Mary’s Academy) finished the season as the nation’s leader in ground balls with 54 and ranked tied for second in the nation with 39 caused turnovers in 2012 while leading the NEC in the category. The senior also led RMU with 34 draw controls and added 16 goals and 24 points in her final campaign with the Colonials. Also an All-NEC First Team honoree in 2011, O’Donnell graduates as the program’s career leader in groundballs (151) and caused turnovers (121). The senior also ranks fourth in career draw controls with 88 and seventh in the following career categories – points (101), goals (74) and assists (27).

Waskowicz (Pittsburgh, Pa. / North Allegheny) led the Colonials with 38 goals and 45 points in 2012 and ranked sixth in the NEC this season with 2.53 goals per game. The sophomore netted six hat tricks in this year’s campaign including three in the season’s last four games. She tied the RMU program record for goals in a game with seven on March 31 in an 18-13 win over St. Francis (Pa.) while also contributing 28 draw controls, 25 ground balls and nine caused turnovers in 2012.

 Mossop (Schenectady, N.Y. / Guilderland) paced all RMU newcomers with 20 goals and 24 points in 11 games this season – ranking four among all Colonials in points and third in goals. The rookie, who earned three NEC Women’s Lacrosse Rookie of the Week honors this season, also tallied 15 ground balls, three draw controls and nine caused turnovers in 2012.

Robert Morris finished the season with a 7-10 overall record including a three-game winning streak to end the 2012 season. The Colonials finished the league schedule with a 5-4 NEC record, putting the program in a tie for fifth in the conference.

-Robert Morris University-