Syracuse, N.Y. ? Jan. 9, 2009 ? The Robert Morris University Colonials faced their first conference contest in nearly two months and earned a 3-1 victory over the Syracuse Orange on Friday night at the Tennity Ice Pavilion. The win marks the Colonials' third consecutive victory over the Orange and moves the squad to an 9-11-1 overall record and a 4-1-0 CHA record. Syracuse drops to 3-13-0 overall and 0-9-0 in the CHA.

Within the first 30 seconds of action, Syracuse was charged with a hooking penalty, giving the Colonials the first power-play of the game. With the extra man advantage the Colonials wasted no time to get on the scoreboard, as junior Mallory Giambra (Rochester, N.Y. / Rochester Edge) fired a hard shot that made its way through the Orange defensemen and into Orange goalie Lucy Shoedel's net. Seniors Samantha Ullrich (St. Louis Mo. / Team Illinois U-19) and Megan Picinic (Cliffside, N.J. / Princeton Tigerlillies) added the assists.

At the end of the first period, both teams notched an even seven shots, but neither squad was able to connect with the net after the Colonials' first goal early in the game.

The second period remained just as quiet as the first period, with both teams playing relentless defense to hold one another scoreless. The Orange outshot the Colonials 13 to eight, but was unable to get anything to drop giving Robert Morris the 1-0 lead going into the third period.

Robert Morris scored their second goal early in the third period after the Orange was charged with their fifth infraction of the night. Junior Chelsea Walkland (Pittsford, N.Y. / Rochester Edge) picked up a rebound shot made by teammate Sara O'Malley (Guelph, Ontario / Hamilton Hawks) and tapped the puck into the left side of the net at 3:39 to increase the Colonial lead to 2-0. Sophomore Maria Stoa (Bloomington, Minn. / Eden Prairie) was also credited with an assist.

Syracuse answered back at 16:58 when freshmen Kelly Dimmen grabbed teammate Gabrielle Beaudry's  rebound and dumped it into the net to move within one of the Colonials. Jessica Frump was also rewarded with an assist.

With an effort to tie things the Orange removed their goalie for the extra-man advantage, but was unsuccessful as Robert Morris was able to score an empty netter with a little over one minute left on the clock. Freshman Brianna Delaney (Stittsville, Ontario / NCCP Raiders) captured her ninth goal of the season, with senior Jenny Monteleone (Fox Chapel, Pa. / Ohio Flames) and O'Malley adding the assists.

Senior Brianne McLaughlin (Sheffield Village, Ohio / Ohio Flames) put in her usual impressive performance, stopping 29 shots for a .967 saving average, while Orange goalkeeper Shoedel added 22 saves. Syracuse outshot Robert Morris 30 to 25, but the Colonials were two of four on power-plays, while the Orange was zero for five.

The Colonials will face off against the Orange for the second game of the series tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. at the Tennity Ice Pavilion.