Box Score Pittsburgh, Pa. ? Jan. 23, 2009 ?The Robert Morris University Colonials fell to the No. 5 Mercyhurst Lakers on Friday night at the Robert Morris Island Sports Center in a 6-4 thriller. It was a hard fought battle throughout the first two periods, with both teams recording four goals apiece and the Colonials scoring three power-play goals in the second. Unfortunately, Mercyhurst was able to connect twice in the third period to capture the victory.
Robert Morris had one of their most successful power-play games to date, recording a goal on three-of-four extra-man advantages. The last time the Colonials scored three power-play goals was against Syracuse on Oct. 11, 2008.
The Colonials were led by freshman Brianna Delaney (Stittsville, Ontario / NCCP Raiders) who captured two goals on the night, while senior Kristen Miles (London, Ontario / London Devilettes) added one goal and one assist and seniors Morgan Beikirch (Livonia, N.Y. / Buffalo Bison) and Megan Picinic (Cliffside Park, N.J. / Princeton Tigerlilies) each added a pair of assists. Senior netminder Brianne McLaughlin (Sheffield Village, Ohio / Ohio Flames) tallied 50 saves in the loss, which is her third best total this season. She now only needs 54 more saves to become the national career save leader.
The Colonials and the Lakers got straight to work when they stepped on the ice, with each team tallying a goal within the first six minutes of the first period. The Lakers tallied the first goal of the game at 1:33 when Sophomore Cassea Schols sent the puck to Geena Prough, who triggered a shot that was saved by McLaughlin. Freshman Meghan Corbett found the rebound and slipped it passed McLaughlin for the score.
Robert Morris struck back at 5:48 when Beikirch came around the net and passed the puck to Delaney who knocked the puck past Laker goalie Hillary Pattenden's right shoulder for the score. Sophomore Maria Stoa (Bloomington, Minn. / Eden Prairie) was credited with the second assist.
The Colonials and the Lakers had various opportunities to put a second score up on the board , but McLaughlin and Pattenden made several skilled saves to keep the score knotted 1-1 going into the second period.
At the end of the first period, Mercyhurst outshot the Colonials 17 to six. Both teams had one power-play opportunity apiece, but were unable to convert.
At 2:08 in the second period the Lakers attacked the Colonial net, putting off six shots before they were able to get the puck past McLaughlin to earn the 2-1 lead. Jesse Scanzano found one of the rebound shots and fired a hard deciding shot into the left corner of the net. Senior Meghan Agosta and freshman Bailey Bram assisted on the play.
Once again, the Colonials got revenge on the Laker goal, scoring at 5:58 in the second period during a power-play. Miles passed the pack to sophomore Kylie Rossler (Regina Saskatchewan / Regina Rebels), who was waiting at the left corner of the net to pop the puck in the net and even the score 2-2. Picinic also added a helper on the play.
Mercyhurst regained the lead two minutes later, also on an extra-man advantage. Senior Hayley McMeekin saw Valerie Chounard streaking towards the crease and sent the biscuit behind the net to Chounard who found an opening past McLaughlin for her 10th goal of the season.
The Lakers were charged with two back-two ?back penalties towards the end of the second period, which led to the Colonials scoring two extra-man goals within a 20 second span. Senior Samantha Ullrich (St. Louis, Mo. / Team Illinois U-19) sent the puck across the ice to Miles, who was sitting just inside the blue line and quickly sent the puck flying through the air into the top right corner of the net to tie the game 3-3 at 15:04. Picinic added her second helper of the game on the play.
Delaney gave the Colonials their first lead of the game at 15:25. Jacki Gibson (Burlington, Ontario / Burlington Barracudas) brought the rubber up the ice and dropped the puck off to Beikirch who took a shot that was saved by Pattenden. Delaney picked up the rebound and captured the goal, putting Robert Morris up 4-3.
Mercyhurst answered back quickly, with Chouinard lighting the lamp at 17:42 for her second goal of the game off assists from McMeekin and Meghan Corbett. The goal closed out the second period with a 4-4 deadlock score.
The Lakers had the offensive advantage in the third period, putting off 16 shots to the Colonials' one, but it was not until 12:22 that the Lakers were able to get through RMU's defense. Mercyhurst ?s Vicki Bendus sent the biscuit into the net while sliding across the ice on her stomach to gain the 5-4 lead, with the assists made by Schols and Ashley Cockell.
Mercyhurst's Agosta scored an empty netter with less than thirty seconds left in the period to finalize the game with a 6-4 decision. Scanzano and Cockell assisted on the play.
With the win, Mercyhurst moves to 16-5-0 overall and 5-0-0 in the CHA, while the Colonials drop to 9-14-2 and 4-4-1 in the CHA.
The Colonials return to the ice tomorrow night at the Robert Morris Island Sports Center for a rematch against the Mercyhurst Lakers at 7:35 p.m.
