Box Score Pittsburgh, Pa. - The Robert Morris University women's hockey team fell behind early and despite a strong offensive showing in the final two periods, Northeastern held off the Colonials, 6-4, in a back-and-forth affair Saturday afternoon at the RMU Island Sports Center.
Sophomore Dayna Newsom (Oakville, Ontario / Oakville Ice) led Robert Morris with a game-high three points, matching her career high, on a goal and two assists. Junior Brianna Delaney (Stittsville, Ontario / NCCP Raiders) collected a pair of goals for RMU and has tallied at least one point in six of her last seven contests dating back to the end of last season. It was the second multi-point effort for Newsom and the third for Delaney of the young season.
Senior Sara O'Malley (Guelph, Ontario / Hamilton Hawks) and sophomore Kelsey Thomas (Hamilton, Ontario / Hamilton Hawks) each added a pair of points for Robert Morris with Thomas putting home her first goal of the season.
Though the Colonials held the Huskies scoreless on two power-play chances in the first period, Northeastern still managed to score twice and maintained a two-goal lead into the first intermission.
Katie Macsorley added a third tally for Northeastern 4:30 into the second period, and the Huskies appeared as though they were on the verge of running away. However, Robert Morris responded immediately when O'Malley won the puck in the right corner and found freshman Thea Imbrogno (Etobicoke, Ontario / Mississauga Jr. Chiefs) near the right circle. Imbrogno quickly threaded a tape-to-tape pass to an awaiting Newsom on the left doorstep, and Newsom finished off the play to put the Colonials on the scoreboard.
RMU appeared to be headed to the locker room down two goals, but Maggie Dimasi put home a rebound just before the horn sounded to give the Huskies a 4-1 lead after 40 minutes of play.
After the intermission, it didn't take long for RMU to strike again. After earning a power play, Thomas fired a shot from the point that was then loose in front of the goal. Delaney poked it past the goal line to make it a 4-2 game. Delaney struck again from near the front of the cage fewer than 11 minutes later, but unfortunately for RMU, Northeastern had tallied another goal in between Delaney's scores.
Northeastern added a power play goal at the 14:21 mark of the third only to see Robert Morris respond yet again when Thomas put home a wrist shot from the right side for the Colonials. Sophomore Cobina Delaney (Stittsville, Ontario / Ottawa Senators) and senior captain Whitney Pappas (Evergreen, Colo. / Belle Tire) each added their first helper of the season on Thomas' tally. Robert Morris notched three third-period goals for the first time since Jan. 23 of last season.
Robert Morris recorded a .211 shooting percentage for the afternoon, their highest mark in their last 16 games. The Colonials, who entered the week ranked eighth in the nation in power-play conversion percentage, went 2-for-7 on the day and now sport a .217 conversion percentage.
Robert Morris and Northeastern will conclude their two-game series Sunday as the Colonials take part in the RMU Hockey Showcase for the third consecutive season. RMU and the Huskies will kick off a college hockey tripleheader at CONSOL Energy Center, the brand new arena of the Pittsburgh Penguins. The first puck is slated to be dropped at noon.
