Box Score Syracuse, N.Y. - Feb. 12, 2010 - The Robert Morris Colonials captured their first conference win of the season and snapped a three-game losing streak with a 1-0 victory over the Syracuse Orange on Friday evening at the Tennity Ice Pavilion. Junior captain Whitney Pappas (Evergreen, Co. / Belle Tire) scored a goal early in the second period and the Colonials were able to hold off the Orange for the entire 60 minutes of play to earn the shutout win. Junior goalie Daneca Butterfield (Kronau, Saskatchewan / Notre Dame Hounds) secured her second shutout of the season and the third of her career.
With the win the Colonials improve to 8-20-1 overall and 1-9-1 in league play, while the Orange drop to 16-14-1 overall and 7-6-0 in the CHA. The Colonials are now 4-2-1 against Syracuse in the all-time series.
"Tonight's win was a solid effort from beginning to end," said head coach Nate Handrahan. "We had a determined bunch that was driven to get it done."
The game started off on an even playing field with both the Orange and the Colonials firing off six shots apiece. However neither team connected with the net leaving it a scoreless deadlock heading into the second frame.
For just the 11th time this season RMU scored the first goal of the contest when Pappas rifled a shot past Syracuse goalie Lucy Schoedel at 6:05 in the second period off an assist from freshman Jennifer Kindret (Winnipeg, Manitoba / BC Breakers). All eight of the Colonials wins have come after they secured the opening score.
Robert Morris played relentless defense for the remainder of the second session and throughout the third to maintain their 1-0 lead and earn the victory.
The Colonials outshot the Orange 31 to 18 with Butterfield making 18 stops and Schoedel capturing 30 saves. Both teams had five extra-man advantages, but were unsuccessful on all opportunities.
Syracuse and Robert Morris return to the Tennity Ice Pavilion for game two of the series tomorrow at 7:00 p.m.
