Sophomore Brianne McLaughlin (Sheffield Village, Oh. / Ohio Flames) made 42 saves for the Colonials in net.

Junior Maria Olausson (Copenhagen, Denmark / Danish National Team), Sophomore Megan Picinic (Cliffside Park, New Jersey / Princeton Tigerlillies) and Sophomore Alissa Dorman (Madison, Wisconsin / Madison Capitals) each tallied an assist in the game, giving the three forwards 18 points each on the season.

The Colonials (7-13-2, 0-3-0 CHA) continued their trend of scoring early and often in the first period, putting away three unanswered goals in the opening 13 minutes of the game.

Freshman Chelsea Walkland (Pittsford, New York / Rochester Edge) got the game going with her third goal of the season 13 seconds into the first period. Robert Morris stretched the lead to 3-0 with goals from Freshman Jessica Riley (Hamilton, Ontario / Stoney Creek Sabres) and a power-play score by Sophomore Morgan Beikirch (Livonia, New York / Syracuse Stars). The Colonials took a commanding 3-1 lead into the first intermission.

Niagara, led by junior defenseman Shannon Moulson, took control of the game in the second period. The Purple Eagles scored three goals, taking the lead 4-3 with 48 seconds left in the second frame. Moulson finished the night with four assists.

The Purple Eagles ended any Robert Morris comeback late in the third period. With time slipping away and down by one, the Colonials pulled McLaughlin from net in favor of the extra attacker, only to have Niagara take the puck the length of the ice for the game-clinching empty net goal and the 5-3 advantage at 19:45 in the stanza.

Allison Rutledge made 13 saves and played 59:36 in goal for the Purple Eagles, picking up her sixth win of the season.

Niagara out-shot the Colonials 47-16, but was kept scoreless on all five power-play opportunities. RMU was 1-6 on the power-play.

Robert Morris takes on Niagara for game two of the series at the Dwyer Arena Saturday January 13, game time is set for 2:05 p.m.