Box Score Pittsburgh, Pa. - Jan. 9, 2010 - The Robert Morris University Colonials dropped their fifth straight contest with a 4-0 shutout loss to the Connecticut Huskies on Saturday afternoon at the RMU Island Sports Center. Robert Morris kept the contest within one for the first two periods, but the Huskies captured three goals in the final period to earn the commanding win.
With the loss the Colonials drop to 5-15-1, while the Huskies improve to 11-6-4.
Robert Morris and Connecticut's defensive units showed off their skills throughout the first period, as neither team was able find the net leaving the score deadlocked at 0-0 heading into the second stanza. Both team's goalies played resiliently, as RMU freshman Kristen DiCiocco (Niagara Falls, Ontario / Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres) made 10 saves and UConn's Alexandra Garcia stopped 11 shots.
The Colonials started off the second period continuing on a power play from the end of the first session. However, the Huskies were able to kill off the penalty and were soon awarded with their own extra man advantage of the contest. At 4:38 into the period they were able to convert on the five-on-four to take a 1-0 lead. UConn's Sami Evelyn sent the puck soaring through traffic in front of the RMU net. It was picked up by Michelle Binning who flipped it in for her 12th score of the season. Rebecca Hewett was awarded with the second assist on the play.
Both goalies continued to play with a lot of determination with DiCiocco making 12 saves in the second period, while Garcia made eight saves.
Connecticut came to life in the third period and scored three goals to finalize the score 4-0. Brittany Murphy scored the first goal in the final stanza at 4:26 off assists from Tiffany Good and Jessica Lutz to give the Huskies a two goal cushion.
The Colonials and the Huskies skated for the next 10 minutes with neither team making a dent on the scoreboard. Finally, at 15:34 UConn scored its third goal when Casey Knajdek fired a hard shot that was tipped in by Binning. Monique Weber also assisted on the play.
With over three minutes left in the contest the Colonials pulled their goalie to gain the extra man advantage, but Connecticut's Jennifer Chaisson was able to connect with the empty net at 16:54 to give the Huskies the 4-0 shutout win.
The Huskies outshot the Colonials 32 to 27 and went one-for-four on the power-play, while RMU was unsuccessful on three power play opportunities.
Garcia made 27 saves in the shutout win, while DiCiocco finished with a career high 28 saves.
RMU travels to Detroit, Mich. on January 15-16 to take on CHA rival Wayne State at the City Sports Center. The puck drops at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 15 and game two begins at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 16.
