Robert Morris (9-8-1) vs. Minnesota State (5-10-1)
Saturday, December 29, 2007 - 7:05 p.m.
Sunday, December 30, 2007 - 1:05 p.m.
RMU Island Sports Center ? Pittsburgh, Pa.
Top Story - After nearly three weeks off, the Robert Morris University women's ice hockey team jumps back into action with a two-game series against WCHA foe Minnesota State. The Colonials are looking to keep their winning ways alive, picking up victories in eight of their last 10 games and getting above the .500 mark for the first time in school history. The Mavericks visit the RMU Island Sports Center for the first time trying to snap a two-game losing skid after dropping a pair of games to conference opponent and #5-ranked Minnesota three weeks ago.
Series Statistics - Minnesota State leads the all-time series, 1-0. Both teams met up for the very first time back on October 1, 2006 in Mankato, Minn., for the Mavericks' season-opener at the All-Seasons Arena. Despite coming off an impressive tie of St. Cloud State the night before, Robert Morris fell behind early, 1-0, in the first period. Minnesota State pushed the lead to 2-0 in the second period before unleashing four goals in the third en route to a 6-0 win.
In the Spotlight - Sophomore Jacki Gibson was named the College Hockey America Defensive Player of the Week for the week of December 10. Gibson scored a goal in each game against RIT and helped the Colonial penalty killing unit stop 10-of-12 power play chances. Her goal on Friday tied the game at one, while Saturday's lamp-lighter gave RMU a 3-2 advantage. Gibson recorded a +1 plus/minus rating in each contest as the Colonials limited the Tigers to a total of 36 shots on goal in the two-game series.
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 fourth season of play-by-play while Bob Kennedy will provide color commentary.
Head Coach Nate Handrahan (2nd Season; Niagara '00) - Head coach Nate Handrahan enters his second season as leader of the Robert Morris University women's ice hockey team. Taking control of the helm in 2006-07, Handrahan devised a complete turnaround of the program from its inaugural season in 2005-06. The new Colonials took the community by storm, as the team reinvented many aspects of its game as proved evidenced by their overall record, statistics and their players.
Handrahan's guidance and leadership took the team to new heights in its second season of intercollegiate play. The squad more than doubled its 2005-06 record by finishing the season with an 11-22-2 mark, compared to the first season's 5-24-2 record. The revived offense under Handrahan exploded on the ice, scoring a combined 205 points, an improvement by more than 116 points. The defense proved strong in shutting down opponents, allowing 116 goals compared to the previous year's 131.
The former Niagara stand out's tutelage of his players was the most evident as the team grew as a whole throughout the season. Several players came to achieve at exceptional levels including the emergence of goaltender Brianne McLaughlin, who developed into one of the premier net-minders in NCAA Division I women's ice hockey.
Before taking over the women's ice hockey program, Handrahan, under head coach Derek Schooley, served as an assistant coach with the RMU men's ice hockey team. In his duties, he assisted in the day-to-day operations of the team as well instructing on and off the ice. In his two years with the team, Handrahan helped the program to an 8-21-4 mark in its inaugural season and a 12-20-3 record in its second season.
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, Handrahan played in every game for the Niagara Purple Eagles over 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 the 2000-2001 season.
Handrahan and his wife, Nicole, have two daughters, Haylee and Mara and are expecting a third in February. He and his family reside in Aliquippa, Pa.
On the Road Again - After wrapping up the first half of the season with Minnesota State at home, the Colonials embark on a four-game road trip that will take them all the way to the end of January. Robert Morris faces Quinnipiac on Thursday, Jan. 3 and Friday, Jan. 4, before heading to New York to battle RPI on Friday, Jan. 18 and Saturday, Jan. 19. The Colonials are currently 4-5 on the road, going 4-2 during their last road trip.
“Three” is the Magic Number - For most people, the luckiest number is seven, but when the Colonials put up the number three on the scoreboard, they're the ones with all the luck. In six of the teams' 18 games, RMU is 7-0-1 in games when they score three goals or more.
Outside the CHA - Outside of College Hockey America play, Robert Morris is boasting a 9-6-1 record. The Colonials have marked nine victories against opponents from the WCHA (Bemidji State), Hockey East (Maine) and ECAC (Clarkson, Brown) while picking up a few wins over an independent team (Sacred Heart) and a top-10 Division III opponent (RIT).
Looking Forward to the Weekend - If the Colonials could prefer to play a hockey game any day of the week, it would have to be the weekend. Robert Morris is 9-6-1 when competing on Friday or Saturday. The Colonials are 0-2 when playing on any other day of the week.
Scouting the Mavericks - Minnesota State enters into the weekend series with an overall record of 5-10-1, with all five of their wins coming against WCHA opponents. The Mavericks victories have come against some marquee opponents such as Ohio State and St. Cloud State, while their losses have been close in nature such as a pair of 4-2 setbacks to Wisconsin. Most recently though, the Mavericks have fell on hard times getting swept in shut-out fashion by #5 Minnesota during their last time out.
MSU is anchored by junior Maggie Fisher, who leads the team with seven goals and five assists for 12 points, while senior Kristina Bunker is right behind her with eight goals and two assists for ten points. Not to overshadow the offense, but the MSU defense can score as well with sophomore Holly Snyder ranking third on the team with eight points. In net, goaltending is solely on the shoulders of Britni Kehler, who has started 16 games this season, compiling a 5-10-1 record with a 2.86 goals against average and a .906 save percentage.
Home, Sweet, Home - Robert Morris has found great success playing in the confinements of the RMU Island Sports Center this season. Through nine games at home, RMU is 5-3-1, compiling wins against Clarkson, Sacred Heart and RIT while earning a tie against St. Cloud State.
RMU Against the WCHA - Robert Morris is currently, 1-4-1, against competition from the WCHA. RMU dropped two games to Wisconsin in Madison, Wisc., lost and tied against St. Cloud State at home and split a series with Bemidji State in Bemidji, Minn.
Multi-Sports Athletes- The Robert Morris women's ice hockey team knows how to make the most of their free-time away from the ice...on the other Colonial playing fields. Juniors Megan Picinic and Morgan Beikirch all are dual-sport athletes at Robert Morris University.
Picinic, when she's not playing forward for head coach Nate Handrahan, is out on the diamond playing for coach Coleman and the softball team while Beikirch likes to get a good round of 18 in as she plays for par and coach Stone with the women's golf squad.
State Championship or Bust - Head coach Nate Handrahan has a couple players that know something about lengthy winning streaks. Freshmen Dy-anna Stewart and Maria Stoa helped engineer a 57-game winning streak as members of Eden Prairie's women's ice hockey team en route to a 2006 Minnesota State Championship.
Mile High to Motor City- Before coming to Robert Morris to play hockey, freshman Whitney Pappas relocated once before to play the game. Moving from the untraditional hockey area of Colorado, Pappas took her game to the booming area of Detroit, Michigan, where she played her senior season with Belle Tire in pursuit of Division I opportunities.
Two is Always Better- The Riley sisters are the first set of twins to play a sport for the Colonials since the Aloi sisters, Natalie and Nicole, played softball and graduated from Robert Morris in 2001.
