The winning score, which was Thomas' career-best seventh of the season in just 14 games, was assisted by senior assistant captain Brianna Delaney (Stittsville, Ontario / NCCP Raiders) and her younger sister, junior Cobina Delaney (Stittsville, Ontario / Ottawa Senators).

"It's exactly what we thought it was going to be...you get into league play, and it's clawing and scratching for every shift," head coach Paul Colontino said. "Everybody wants those wins, so it was exactly what we expected. We didn't make it pretty at the end, but we definitely found a way to get the job done. We got some great saves from [DiCiocco]."

Brianna Delaney had the game's lone multi-point performance as she also had the primary helper on RMU's opening goal to become the first Colonial in program history to have four double-digit assist seasons. Brianna also hit 110 career points Friday and surpassed the 60-assist mark for her career as well.

Junior Kristen DiCiocco (Niagara Falls, Ontario / Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres) posted 26 saves, including stopping a few key shots in the waning minutes, to tie the RMU record for goaltender victories in a single season. She currently sits sixth nationally in goals against average and has been a large reason why Robert Morris has allowed just nine even-strength goals in 14 games thus far.

Sophomore Thea Imbrogno (Etobicoke, Ontario / Mississauga Jr. Chiefs) put home RMU's first goal, tying the score, and moved into a tie for seventh place all-time at RMU in career points (47). The tally also gave her a goal in three straight games for the second time in her career.

Robert Morris had a chance to take the lead within the first three minutes but a try by Thomas from the circle rang off the post.

Syracuse was soon given a chance to take the upper hand when it was granted a power play at the 4:05 mark. The Colonial penalty kill was certainly up to the challenge, though, as RMU actually had the best offensive chances during those two minutes.

However, the Orange would take the lead when it received a second power play fewer than two minutes after the initial one ended. Nicole Ferrara put home a rebound on the doorstep at the 8:25 mark to put Syracuse up, 1-0.

Syracuse collected a third power play chance just over 12 minutes into the game, but Robert Morris came through with an important kill to keep the deficit at one. DiCiocco made two saves during the man-advantage while four different Colonials each blocked Syracuse shot attempts.

RMU finally earned its first power play with just over five minutes remaining in the first. The Colonials fired four shots on goal but were unable to break through and entered the intermission trailing by one.

Robert Morris again kept itself within striking distance when it killed off a 45-second 5-on-3 advantage that Syracuse obtained early in the second stanza. The Colonials would then cash in just prior to the midway mark to even the score.

Sophomore defenseman Kylie St. Louis (Windsor, Ontario / Southwest Wildcats) was able to win a battle and flipped the puck to Imbrogno at the top of the circle. Imbrogno then fed Brianna Delaney below the goal line and alertly cut across the ice to an open space. Delaney sent the puck right back to the sophomore who drilled it home at the 9:49 mark to tie it, 1-1. It was St. Louis' fifth assist of the season and the 10th of her career.

It appeared as though the teams would remain tied into the second intermission, but the Colonials surged ahead in the final 30 seconds.

Cobina Delaney got the play started when she blocked an Orange clearing attempt, won the puck and sent a pass from her knees to her older sister who was stationed nearby. Brianna Delaney wasted no time and immediately found a wide open Thomas on the front edge of the circle. Thomas ripped a shot over the goalie's glove to put RMU up, 2-1. The well-earned assist for Cobina was the 25th of her career and helped Robert Morris take the lead into the second intermission.

DiCiocco made a big-time save on a breakaway early in the third, but Robert Morris still had work left to do.

Just after five minutes had elapsed in the final frame, Syracuse had a 2:59 power play, including a 1:01 two-man advantage, but the Colonials came up with a huge defensive effort to maintain the lead.

Syracuse put up a valiant attempt over the closing minutes as it gave it everything it had to tie the game. The Orange had 13 shot attempts in the final four minutes of regulation, but the Colonials were up to the challenge. DiCiocco stopped five shots during this span while RMU skaters blocked five more, sacrificing their bodies to preserve their team's lead. Syracuse pulled its goalie with 1:12 remaining, but it was to no avail as Robert Morris held on for the victory.

Imbrogno's score gave Robert Morris at least one power-play goal in six straight games as the Colonials have been successful on 16 of their last 38 man-advantage opportunities.

Senior assistant captain Kathryn Stack (Edmonton, Alberta / Edmonton Thunder) posted a game-high four blocked shots, including two in the final four minutes.

Robert Morris outshot the Orange, 32-27.

After winning its league opener, Robert Morris will look to make it two in a row as the same two squads finish the series Saturday afternoon. First puck drop is set for 2:05 p.m. in each team's final game before taking an extended holiday break.