Box Score Pittsburgh, Pa. ? Feb. 6, 2009 ? The Robert Morris University Colonials snapped a four-game losing streak with a dominating 7-2 win over the Sacred Heart Pioneers on Friday night at the RMU Island Sports Center. The Colonials outshot the Pioneers 46 to 20 to earn their 10th win over SHU all-time. The win improves the Colonials to 10-15-2, while the Pioneers drop to 12-12-2.
The game was highlighted by the forward line of freshman Brianna Delaney (Stittsville, Ontario / NCCP Raiders), senior Kristen Miles (London, Ontario / London Devilettes) and junior Chelsea Walkland (Pittsford, N.Y. / Rochester Edge), who accounted for 10 of the team's 18 points. Delaney scored two goals for the third time in her career, while also adding two assists for a four point night. Miles dished out two assists and added a goal and Walkland contributed a game high three assists, while also adding a goal.
The Colonials got the game started early in the first period, when Walkland struck the net off assists from sophomore Whitney Pappas (Evergreen, Co. / Belle Tire) and Delaney at 4:42.
At 12:58 in the first period, Delaney scored her second point when she skated through the Pioneer defense and slipped the puck past SHU goalie Amanda Nagel. In a reversal of roles, Walkland dished out the helper to Delaney and Miles was also credited with an assist on the play.
The Pioneers took advantage of a roughing infraction by junior Jessica Riley (Hamilton, Ontario / Stoney Creek Sabres) to score at 15:58. SHU's Caitlin Gottwald rifled a hard shot from inside the blue line that flew into the top of the net to cut in on the Colonials 2-0 lead.
Robert Morris opened up the second period with a power-play goal by senior Megan Picinic (Cliffside Park, N.J. / Princeton Tigerlilies) at 6:02. Picinic found a pass from senior Morgan Beikirch (Livonia, N.Y. / Buffalo Bison), while sliding on her stomach and found an opening in the Pioneer net to improve the Colonials lead to 3-1.
At 6:30 in the third period Delaney capitalized on a short-handed play after the Beikirch was sent to the gate. The freshman intercepted the puck from a Pioneer player, weaved her way through several Sacred Heart blueliner's and dangled the puck past Nagel for the score.
Less than three minutes later junior Jacki Gibson (Burlington, Ontario / Burlington Barracudas) rippled the twine on an extra-man advantage when she triggered a shot from twenty yards off that found that back of the net. Delaney and Walkland were awarded with the helpers.
Sacred Heart answered back to Gibson's goal fifty seconds later when Jaclyn Rideout netted her eighth goal of the season off assists from Taryn LaPierre and Kate Dunlop.
At 15:31 Miles tallied her second point of the night and seventh goal of the season to put the Colonial lead to four with a 6-2 score, with Walkland adding the assist. Riley wrapped things up with a goal at 17:01 off helpers from senior Alissa Dorman (Madison, Wisc./ Madison Capitals) and Picinic.
Both teams had an even five power-plays and both teams converted on the extra-man advantage with the Colonials going two-for-five and the Pioneers going one-for five.
Sophomore Daneca Butterfield (Kronau, Saskatchewan / Notre Dame Hounds) grabbed her second win of the season and totaled 18 saves in the win, while Nagel added 39 saves.
The Colonials return to the RMU Island Sports Center tomorrow night for another match-up against the Sacred Heart Pioneers, with the contest starting at 7:35 p.m.
