Apr 15, 2025 By Jonathan Guth 5 min read

MOON TWP. — If not for the “Colonials” stitching on their uniforms, those watching Robert Morris University softball would think the team is a group of WPIAL All-Stars.

In Robert Morris’ 4-1 victory over Detroit Mercy Saturday afternoon at the North Athletic Complex on the campus of Robert Morris University, six of the nine starters, including three from the Herald-Standard coverage area, played for high schools in District 7.

Sequoia Dunlap, a 2023 graduate of Uniontown Area High School, is in her first season with the Colonials after transferring from Towson University.

Dunlap is the first Division I softball player to have competed for Uniontown. She played plenty of travel ball, but always did what she could for the Lady Red Raiders. Dunlap believes her alma mater can make some waves in the WPIAL.

“They have a couple of good, little girls coming up in that program,” Dunlap said. “I don’t doubt that within the next few years, you will see Uniontown flipping on the other side.”

Dunlap’s first season in collegiate softball at Towson didn’t go as planned. She suffered a serious injury and wasn’t provided with the support she needed.

“I had a moment where I realized what I chose wasn’t the right decision, based on the simple fact that — if I’m hurt — I shouldn’t be treated a different way,” Dunlap said. “I had torn my MCL, and I was treated terribly, for no reason.

“When I came here, I knew immediately that the decision to go there wasn’t right, based on how my coaches here treated me.”

Dunlap has fit in nicely at Robert Morris under head coach Jexx Varner.

She is batting .250 with four home runs and 20 RBIs. Dunlap, who primarily plays shortstop but can fill in at third base, has started 30 games as a redshirt freshman.

“The competition in travel ball prepared me for college because it is usually a little bit better than high school,” Dunlap said.

Dunlap had a career-high two homes and four RBIs in a 7-1 victory at Pitt on April 1. She hit a grand slam against Penn State on Feb. 28.

Dunlap had a career-high three hits against Detroit Mercy in Game 1 of a doubleheader on Sunday.

She showed off her glove work in Saturday’s 4-1 win over the Titans with three assists and one putout. Dunlap assisted on the first play of the game, and she had another assist in the second inning.

Dunlap’s best play against Detroit Mercy on Saturday came in the sixth inning when she snagged a ball with a back-handed pick deep in the hole and fired to Mary Brant at first base, who stretched to record the out. Dunlap caught a popup in the fifth inning.

“I feel like fielding has always been something that — I wouldn’t say came more naturally — but I had a lot more fun being out there with my friends playing a sport that I love,” Dunlap said. “Today’s game was low scoring and pretty close, so making those plays meant a little bit more than if the game was a blowout.”

The Colonials are 20-13 overall and 12-5 in Horizon League play, and Dunlap believes her new team can make a run to the NCAA Division I tournament.

“That’s what we are hoping for,” Dunlap said.

Southmoreland graduate Jess Matheny is a senior, and unlike several of her teammates, she didn’t enter the transfer portal, and has been at Robert Morris since Day 1.

“I believe it has always been a good fit here for me,” Matheny said. “Even in previous years when I may not have been a starter or things didn’t go my way, at the end of the day, I had my role, and I wanted to excel in that role no matter what it may be.

“Not playing as much as I did in high school was pretty tough at first because of the love I have for this game, and how hard I am on myself, so the expectations I have for myself weighed on me. It’s tough at first, but you begin to accept that.”

Matheny singled and scored the game’s second run in Saturday’s win over Detroit Mercy. Alaina Koutsogiana and Matheny recorded back-to-back singles to lead off the bottom of the second inning before Dunlap laid down a sacrifice bunt.

The Titans rushed the throw to first base, which allowed Koutsogiana and Matheny to score, and Dunlap ended up on third base. Dunlap scored later in the frame.

Matheny is batting .284 with four home runs and 27 RBIs while playing in the outfield.

“It feels really good to be able to contribute this season after not doing as much as I would have liked my freshman, sophomore and junior years,” Matheny said. “It would be really cool to finish this year with a Horizon League Championship and make it to the national tournament.”

Koutsogiana, who is a Peters Township graduate and senior, hit a solo home run against the Titans on Saturday.

Mount Pleasant graduate Courtney Poulich started her collegiate career at Liberty, but the former Lady Viking entered the transfer portal and joined the Colonials in 2023.

“It (Liberty) wasn’t a great fit for me,” Poulich said. “I learned a lot, and nothing against anyone there, but it didn’t feel like home. I committed there really young, and when I went into the transfer portal, I visited here and I met with the coaches.

“I knew of Coach Jexx (Varner) a little bit, and I played with half of the team growing up, so I was like, ‘This does really feel like home,’ and the culture here is good.”

Poulich is batting .350 with eight home runs and 39 RBIs as a redshirt junior in the outfield.

Senior Anna Resnik (Elizabeth Forward) and sophomore Kaitlyn Molitoris (Montour) round out six former WPIAL players who have been starting for Robert Morris.