Pittsburgh, Pa. - Sept. 27, 2009 - The Robert Morris University Colonials opened up the 2009-10 season on a high note as they blanked the Wilfrid-Laurier Golden Hawks, 4-0, in their exhibition season-opener on Sunday at the RMU Island Sports Center. Junior goalie Daneca Butterfield (Kronau, Saskatchewan / Notre Dame Hounds) registered 20 saves in the shutout.
The Colonials entered the game with a lot of drive and confidence, which quickly developed into goals. At 8:16 in the first period the Colonials executed on a breakaway play when junior Sara O'Malley (Guelph, Ontario / Hamilton Hawks) grabbed the puck from Kathleen McDonald (Kamloops, B.C. / Team BC and POE) and found an opening passed Golden Hawk netminder Liz Knox. Maria Stoa (Bloomington, Minn. / Eden Prairie) was credited with the second assist. Wilfrid-Laurier had two power-play opportunities in the first period, but the Colonial blue-line was able to hold off their attack.
In the second period the Golden Hawks outshot the Colonials 13 to seven, however, Robert Morris was able to capture two goals to their zero. At 2:58 into the second period freshman Jennifer Kindret (Winnipeg, Manitoba / BC Breakers) sent the puck up to senior Chelsea Walkland (Pittsford, N.Y. / Rochester Edge) who fired the puck right into the goalies five-hole for the score. Sophomore Paige Pietrangelo (Niagara Falls, Ontario / Hamilton Hawks) was also awarded with an assist on the play.
One minute after the Colonials scored their second goal Wilfrid-Laurier's Katherine Shirriff was called for a tripping infraction. 17 seconds into RMU's first power-play of the game, freshman Dayna Newsom (Oakville, Ontario / Oakville Ice) recorded her first goal at the collegiate level off of assists from freshman Kelsey Thomas (Hamilton, Ontario / Hamilton Hawks) and senior Jacki Gibson (Burlington, Ontario / Burlington Barracudas) to increase RMU's lead to 3-0.
The two teams battled back and forth for the remaining 16 minutes in the second period, but neither team was able to find the net. However, at 5:17 in the third period RMU added another goal to its collection. McDonald was able to find the net to give RMU its fourth and final goal of the game. O'Malley tallied her second point of the contest by offering the helper on the play.
Both teams were relatively even on shots, as Wilfrid-Laurier tallied 26 and Robert Morris fired off 24. The Golden Hawks went zero-for-five on the power play, while RMU was one-of-two.
Robert Morris opens up its regular-season on Oct 2-3 when it takes on 2009 NCAA final four participant Minnesota Duluth at 7:07 p.m. Friday and 4:00 p.m. Saturday.
