Box Score Pittsburgh, Pa. - October 16, 2009 - The Robert Morris University Colonials started strong in their contest against the No. 8/10 St. Lawrence Saints, but fell 3-2 on Friday night at Clearview Arena. Robert Morris led the game 2-1 after the first two periods, but St. Lawrence was able to capture two unanswered goals in the third period to secure its first win of the season. The loss drops the Colonials to 1-4-0, while St. Lawrence improves to 1-1-1.
"I thought they played very hard throughout the game, but we didn't finish the way we needed to," said head coach Nate Handrahan. "Overall, we played poorer as the game went on and they continued to play better. Our inability to capitalize on power plays hurt us and gave them momentum."
The Colonials got the first slice of action at 6:27 to put Robert Morris up 1-0. Freshman Dayna Newsom (Oakville, Ontario / Oakville Ice) received a feed from fellow rookie Kelsey Thomas (Hamilton, Ontario / Hamilton Hawks) and rifled a shot from just inside the blue line that sailed into the net on the near post. The goal marks her second of the season.
At 15:40 the Saints responded with a goal of their own to knot the score 1-1. During a scramble in front of the net Vanessa Emond found the puck and flipped it past junior goalie Daneca Butterfield's (Kronau, Saskatchewan / Notre Dame Hounds) left glove for her second goal of the season.
The Colonials struck back after just 23 seconds with an impressive play by the junior class. Captain Whitney Pappas (Evergreen, Co. / Belle Tire) sent the biscuit up the ice to Maria Stoa (Bloomington, Minn. / Eden Prairie), who found Sara O'Malley (Guelph, Ontario / Hamilton Hawks) waiting by the near post. She took hold of the puck and beat St. Lawrence goaltender Brittony Chartier with a shot to the top left corner. The goal marks O'Malley's third of the season and gave Robert Morris a 2-1 advantage heading into the second period.
The Colonials had a couple near goals in the second period, but the majority of play remained relatively quiet. St. Lawrence was unsuccessful on two extra man advantages, while Robert Morris went zero-for-one.
St. Lawrence came into third period with a lot of energy and scored at 1:08. Alley Bero grabbed a pass from Jamie Goldsmith and fired a shot through Butterfield's five-hole for the score to deadlock the game 2-2. The two teams fought hard for the next 16 minutes, but neither team's defensive unit would allow the score.
With the clock winding down St. Lawrence's Michelle Zimmerman recorded a clutch goal at 17:26 on an unassisted play when she clanked the puck off the elbow of the net, which trickled in for the score to win the game 3-2.
St. Lawrence outshot Robert Morris 41 to 18 and Butterfield tallied 38 saves in the defeat, while Chartier made 16 stops. Neither team was successful on the power play tonight, as Robert Morris went zero-of-seven and the Saints were unsuccessful on three attempts.
The Colonials return to the ice at the Robert Morris Island Sports Center tomorrow at 4:00 p.m. for game two of the series against St. Lawrence.
