Box Score Pittsburgh, Pa. - January 22, 2010 - The Robert Morris University Colonials snapped a seven game losing streak with an impressive 10-2 victory over the Sacred Heart Pioneers on Friday night at the RMU Island Sports Center. The win brings the RMU's all-time record against the Pioneers to 12-1-0. In the win, Sara O'Malley (Guelph, Ontario / Hamilton Hawks) tallied her second career hat trick and tied the RMU career record for shorthanded goals by scoring her third in tonight's contest.
Six different Colonials scored goals in the game, three scored multiple goals, and 13 total Colonials captured at least one point in the win. Also, for the first time since the 2007-08 season a Robert Morris goalie assisted on a goal when freshman Kristen DiCiocco (Niagara Falls, Ontario / Stoney Creek Sabres) added the helper on RMU's final goal of the contest. With the win the Colonials improve to 6-17-1, while the Pioneers drop to 5-14-1.
"It was nice to break out of a scoring slump and finally score some goals," said assistant coach Scott Spencer. "The girls played really hard and we were able to get production from our usual suspects like Delaney and O'Malley. It was really nice to get some scoring from our younger players as well."
The Colonials wasted little time in the first period to put a mark on the scoreboard. Sophomore Brianna Delaney (Stittsville, Ontario / NCCP Raiders) found a loose puck after the faceoff and passed the puck to junior O'Malley in front of the net. O'Malley fired off a shot that was saved by SHU goalie Emily Siira, but then picked up her own rebound and went top shelf with her second shot to score the goal.
Just four seconds after the Colonial goal, the Pioneers won the face-off at center ice, which triggered an odd-man rush by Sacred Heart. Brittany Hartman sent the puck to Lauren Fontaine who fired off a shot that was saved by RMU goalie DiCiocco. Kate Dunlop picked up the rebound and found the open net to even the score, 1-1.
Robert Morris took the lead with 3:01 left in opening period when junior Maria Stoa (Bloomington, Minn. / Eden Prairie) intercepted the puck and sent it up to O'Malley who took off on a breakaway with SHU defenseman trailing close behind. O'Malley dangled the puck past SHU goalie Emily Siira to capture the shorthanded goal. The score marked her second of the contest and gave RMU a 2-1 advantage heading into the second period.
The Colonials played superb defense throughout the second period and prevented the Pioneers from shooting the puck throughout the first half of the period. While also playing resilient defense, Robert Morris was also able to stretch their lead to 6-1, as they scored four more goals throughout the second stanza.
After firing off shot after shot the Colonials finally connected at 8:03 in the second period during a power play when Delaney skated the puck around the net and flipped a back-handed shot past Siira's left glove. O'Malley and Stoa were credited with the assists on the play.
RMU capitalized on another power play opportunity at 12:42 with all freshmen contributing on the play. Cobina Delaney (Stittsville, Ontario / Ottawa Senators) dropped the puck off to Dayna Newsom (Oakville, Ontario / Oakville Ice) who rifled the puck through traffic and into net to set the score at 4-1. Jennifer Kindret (Winnipeg, Manitoba / BC Breakers) also assisted on the play.
At 15:37 the Colonials added a fifth goal to their collection with the trio of C. Delaney, Newsom and Kindret striking again. This time Kindret found the open net for her fourth career goal with C. Delaney and Newsom adding the helpers.
Three minutes later Delaney scored her second goal of the contest off assists from freshman Kelsey Thomas (Hamilton, Ontario / Hamilton Hawks) and junior Whitney Pappas (Evergreen, Co. / Belle Tire) to set the score at 6-1 heading into the final session.
RMU added to its lead within the first two minutes of the third period when freshman Kathleen McDonald (Kamloops, B.C. / Team BC & POE) connected on a shot off assists by Stoa and Senior Chelsea Walkland (Pittsford, N.Y. / Rochester Edge) to bring the score to 7-1.
The two squads skated through nearly 10 minutes of scoreless action, but the Pioneers were finally able to score their second goal when Brittany Hartman jammed the puck past DiCiocco on a power play at 10:40. Dunlop and Nicole Palazzo assisted on the play.
Less than a minute later, the Colonials took back their six goal lead when Kindret scored her second goal of the contest with senior Jordan Riley (Hamilton, Ontario / Stoney Creek Sabres) and Newsom adding the assists. At 16:18 Walkland brought the score to 9-2 when she recorded her first goal of the season off a Stoa assist. O'Malley finalized the 10-2 score with a goal at 19:13 to mark her second career hat trick. Senior Mallory Giambra (Rochester, N.Y. / Rochester Edge) and RMU goalie DiCiocco added the assist on the play.
Robert Morris outshot Sacred Heart 43 to 17 and were successful on 2-of-3 extra man advantages, while the Pioneers capitalized on 1-of-3 chances. DiCiocco finished the game with 15 saves, while Siira made 33 stops.
The Colonials and Pioneers take the ice again tomorrow with a 7:05 puck drop. Former Colonial and current member of the 2010 U.S. Olympic Women's Ice Hockey Team, Brianne McLaughlin, will be at the game tomorrow to drop a ceremonial puck. All proceeds from Chuck-A-Puck will aid in the McLaughlin fund to help her family see her compete in the 2010 Olympics.
