Capsule Preview - After a grueling 17 game non-conference schedule, the Colonials are making the jump into College Hockey America play. Robert Morris will take on the Mercyhurst Lakers as their first opponent on the CHA schedule. RMU is 0-5 lifetime against the Lakers, who are ranked #1 in Division I women's ice hockey. Over the past five games played between these two teams, the Colonials have struggled against the Lakers offense, being out-scored 31-3. This two-game series will also mark the first time in the two-year history of the program that the women's ice hockey team will play a #1 ranked opponent.

Home Field Advantage - The Robert Morris' Island Sports Center will be the site of the 2007 CHA Championship. The 1,200 seat ISC has been the home for Colonial hockey, as well as the Pittsburgh Hornets AAA Travel Hockey Association and several local high schools. The tournament will be on March 2-3. The two semifinal games begin with #1 seed vs. #4 seed at 1:00 p.m. and the #2 seed and #3 seed following at 4:00 p.m. The championship will be the next day at 4:00 p.m.

On The Internet - All Robert Morris men's and women's hockey home games can be heard live on the internet by visiting www.sports.yahoo.com. Gero Von Dehn returns for his third season of play-by-play while Bob Kennedy will provide color commentary.

Head Coach Nate Handrahan (first season; Niagara '00) - Entering into his first full season as head coach of the Colonials, Nate Handrahan is looking to build upon the success of the inaugural season and point the women's ice hockey program in the right direction. An experienced veteran as a player and as a coach, Handrahan can bring a great sense of leadership as well a mentor to this young squad. The Colonials concluded their 2005-06 season with a 5-24-2 mark, and a 2-10-1 record in the College Hockey America conference. Being no stranger to Robert Morris, Handrahan has been involved in the Colonials hockey system since the start of Division I play in 2004. Serving as an assistant to head coach Derek Schooley, Nate was involved in all of the aspects of the men's hockey program. He helped guide the men's team to a 8-21-4 record in their first season of play, and then to a 12-20-3 record in 2005-06.  Prior to the Colonials, A 2000 graduate of Niagara University, Handrahan returned to his alma mater as an assistant coach in 2001 under Dave Burkholder. Handrahan's duties included off-ice training, scouting, game film review, and coaching the team's defensemen. Niagara earned an automatic berth in the NCAA tournament in 2004 after winning the College Hockey America Tournament, marking Handrahan's second trip to the NCAA postseason.  During his collegiate career in hockey, Handrahan played in every game for the Niagara Purple Eagles through four years, leading them to a No. 6 seed in the 2000 NCAA Tournament. The former defenseman, who played under current UMass-Lowell head coach Blaise MacDonald, was a two time All-ECAC West selection and holds the Niagara record for most consecutive games played (129). Handrahan earned the team's "PAW" award in 1997-98 and the "Unsung Hero Award" in the Purple Eagles playoff season of 1999-2000. He finished his career with 13 goals and 66 assists for 79 points.  Following the 1999-2000 season, Handrahan was signed by the Roanoke Express of the East Coast Hockey League, where he played the remainder of the 2000 season and 2000-2001 season. Handrahan and his wife, Nicole, have two daughters, Haylee and Mara. He and his family currently reside in Aliquippa, Pa.

Fear the Blue Line -The Robert Morris University women's ice hockey team has scored 107 points so far this season, with 41 % or 44 points coming from their blue-line trio of Megan Picinic (Cliffside Park, N.J. / Princeton Tigerlillies), Alissa Dorman (Madison, Wisc. / Madison Capitals) and Maria Olausson (Copenhagen, Denmark / Danish National Team). Olausson is the Colonials top point scorer with two goals and 14 assists for 16 points, Dorman is second on the team with 10 goals and five assists for 15 points, while Picinic is fourth with eight goals and five assists for 13 points. The three girls most recently accounted for the game-winning goal against Vermont on November 18 then the next day November 19, accounted for the game-tying goal in the third period against Providence.
 

RMU's Last Games - Last weekend, the Robert Morris University women's ice hockey team played their second three game set of the year, playing a two-game series against # 2 Wisconsin and a single against Quinnipiac. The Colonials had their hands full to say the least with Wisconsin falling 10-0 and 5-0 to the defending national champions, then dropped a heartbreaker to the Bobcats of Quinnipiac in a 4-3 OT loss.

In game one, the electricity was high in the RMU Island Sports Center with more than 700 in attendance for the Colonials Skate for the Cure event, a benefit that would see all of the proceeds from the game donated to the Glimmer of Hope foundation for breast cancer research.  Robert Morris skated tough for the beginning of the game until the Badgers showed off their fifth-ranked scoring offense unleashing four goals in the first stanza. They would go on to add three goals in the second and three more in the third period shutting out the Colonials. Sara Bauer led the Badgers offense tallying four points in the game with two goals and two assists, while eight Wisconsin players picked up multi-point games.

Sophomore Brianne McLaughlin (Sheffield Village, Oh. / Ohio Flames) and Freshman Heather Rossi (Kunkletown, Pa. / Wisconsin Wild) combined for 28 saves in the loss.

After suffering a 10-0 set back to the Badgers in game one of the series, the Colonials opened up game two with a whole new attitude. Robert Morris put the pressure on the defending champs only allowing two goals in the first period. Wisconsin's Meghan Mikkelson had a hand in both of the scores, ending the night with three assists. In the second period, the Colonial defense took it up a notch limiting the Badgers to only eight shots and keeping them off the scoreboard taking the 2-0 deficit into the third. RMU played a hard-fought game going into the third, playing the Badgers tough for 51 minutes, but in the end Wisconsin's experience sealed the game scoring three goals in four minutes to put the game out of reach.

Wisconsin out shot the Colonials in the game 32-9 and made the most of their power-plays scoring twice.

Sophomore Brianne McLaughlin made 27 in the loss.

On Sunday, the Colonials built up a 3-0 lead late into the second period but couldn't sustain momentum as the Bobcats (5-12) rallied to score four unanswered goals in come from behind fashion. It seemed as the game started up Quinnipiac had all the momentum they needed to beat a Robert Morris squad that was playing it's third straight game in as many days. But the Colonial defensive unit stood tall, anchored by Freshman Heather Rossi, RMU shutdown the pesky Bobcat attack and forced them to call an early timeout in the first period.

After the brief stoppage, Robert Morris jumped into the drivers seat.

Sophomore Laura White (Pennsauken, N.J. / Princeton Tigerlillies) took advantage of a miscue in a clearing attempt by Quinnipiac goalie Lauren Brennan. White intercepted the pass and quickly shot it back at goalie, bouncing off her glove and sliding over the red line for the 1-0 lead at 15:09. In the second period, Sophomores Alissa Dorman (Madison, WI / Madison Capitals) and Megan Picinic (Cliffside Park, N.J. / Princeton Tigerlillies) used the shaky hands of Lauren Brennan to their favor, scoring off the rebound for back-to-back power-play goals at 8:44 and 14:00. With the game slipping away, Quinnipiac quickly pulled Brennan from goal in favor of Janelle Wolitski. After the goalie change, the Bobcats answered back with two quick scores in final minutes of the second period to pull within one goal. It was looking as the Colonials were going to sneak out of the game with a win possessing the puck in the offensive zone. After a missed shot on goal, Quinnipiac skated down the ice with only 2:21 left in the third period and banked home the tying goal, forcing the game to extra-time.
With the momentum now on the Bobcats side, Quinnipiac didn't take long to seal the win scoring 29 seconds into the extra frame prevailing 4-3 over Robert Morris.

Quinnipiac out-shot the Colonials 37-12. Heather Rossi finished the game in goal with 33 saves.

Are We There Yet - After three-weeks on the road Robert Morris finally returns home to the RMU Island Sports Center for a whole month. The Colonials will host a slew of opponents including nationally ranked #1 Mercyhurst and # 2 Wisconsin, with other games coming from Quinnipiac and Sacred Heart.

Scouting the Lakers -  There's no doubt that the Lakers deserve the number one spot with the talent they have. Mercyhurst over the years has been a perennial power-house in women's ice hockey. This year they have pushed it to the next level boasting a 14-1-1 record, with their lone loss coming from St. Lawrence by a score of 3-2. The Lakers offense produces on average 3.75 goals per game and has a record of 11-1 when they strike first.

Mercyhurst is anchored by a slew of young talent hailing all over the globe, including Ontario, Michigan, Ohio and even as far as Sweden. The offense is led by Freshman Meghan Agosta, Sophomore Valerie Chouinard and Senior Julia Collizza. The three forward have combined for a mind-blowing 74 points through 16 games this season. Agosta leads the team with 28 points having 12 goals and 16 assists. Chouinard and Collizza are both tied at 23 with Chouinard having 12 goals and 11 assists and Collizza with nine goals and 14 assists.The defense is anchored by Junior stud Laura Hosier who boasts a record of 14-1-0. The net-minder has a goals against average of 1.39 and a 932% save percentage.