The Girls of Steel, the all-female FIRST robotics team sponsored by Carnegie Mellon University's Field Robotics Center, placed third among 61 teams and won the FIRST Team Spirit Award at the Miami Valley FIRST Robotics Regional Competition in Dayton, Ohio, Feb. 28–March 3.

It was the first time in eight years of competition that the FRC team, composed of ninth through 12th grade girls from the Pittsburgh area, made it to the final round. Though its alliance of three teams lost to the opposing alliance in the final match, the Girls of Steel team, as the second alliance captain, received a wildcard, enabling them to compete in the FIRST Championship in Detroit April 25–28.

Judges present the FIRST Team Spirit Award to the team that displays extraordinary enthusiasm and spirit through exceptional partnership and teamwork, furthering the objectives of FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology).

The Girls of Steel will compete next at the Greater Pittsburgh Regional, March 22–24 at California University of Pennsylvania.