Box Score Pittsburgh, Pa. - Feb. 10, 2010 - The Robert Morris University Colonials recovered from a one goal deficit after the first frame by scoring two goals in the second period, but the Niagara Purple Eagles netted a pair of goals in the final period to take the win, 3-2 on Friday evening at the RMU Island Sports Center. Sara O'Malley (Guelph, Ontario / Hamilton Hawks) and freshman Jennifer Kindret (Winnipeg, Manitoba / BC Breakers) each registered a goal within two minutes of each other during the second period that gave the Colonials a lead that lasted for over 20 minutes of play.
The loss drops the Colonials to 8-22-1 overall and 1-11-1 in the league, while Niagara improves to 12-12-5 and 7-5-3 in the CHA.
Niagara stunned the Colonials by scoring a goal just 10 seconds into competition to gain the early lead. Junior goalie Daneca Butterfield (Kronau, Saskatchewan / Notre Dame Hounds) left the net to play the puck when it made an unlikely bounce into the stick of Frances McPhail who scored the easy unassisted goal on the open net.
In the second period the Colonials bounced back from their 1-0 deficit by scoring a pair of goals within two minutes to take over the lead, 2-1. O'Malley scored RMU's first goal at 9:03 when she intercepted a pass in Niagara's defensive zone and skated to the net and beat Niagara goalie Jenni Bauer with a shot through her five-hole to mark her 16th goal of the season. Kindret captured the 2-1 lead for the Colonials' when she picked up a pass from fellow rookie Cobina Delaney (Stittsville, Ontario / Ottawa Senators) in front of the net and tossed the puck into the back of the net at 11:02. Jacki Gibson (Burlington, Ontario / Burlington Barracudas) was also credited with an assist on the play.
The Purple Eagles came storming back in the third period and scored two goals midway through the period to regain the lead, 3-2. Kathleen Bortuzzo scored the equalizing goal at 11:44 off assists from Mary McKinnon and Erica Owczarczak. At 14:00 Owczarczak followed her helper with the game-winning goal on the power play, with Jenna Hendrikx and Frances McPhail assisting on the play.
Robert Morris outshot the Purple Eagles 28 to 23 with Bauer making 26 saves in the win and Butterfield adding 20 stops. Niagara went 1-for-6 on the power play, while RMU went 0-for7 on the extra man advantage.
The Colonials return to action tomorrow to take on the Purple Eagles in game two of the series. The puck drops at 7:05 p.m. at the RMU Island Sports Center.
