Box Score Pittsburgh, Pa. - The Robert Morris University women's hockey team took an early lead against Niagara, but the Colonials were unable to hold on and fell, 3-1, to the Purple Eagles in College Hockey America (CHA) action Friday evening at the RMU Island Sports Center.
Sophomore Dayna Newsom (Oakville, Ontario / Oakville Ice) scored for the Colonials as freshman Thea Imbrogno (Etobicoke, Ontario / Mississauga Jr. Chiefs) and junior Brianna Delaney (Stittsville, Ontario / NCCP Raiders) collected the assists. It was the third time in four games that RMU struck first and extended the Colonials' streak to 35 consecutive games without being shut out.
With the goal, Newsom, who is just three assists shy of tying the single-season school record, became the third active Colonial to have a 20-point season to her credit. She has also now combined on a goal with Imbrogno in all three of Robert Morris' contests against Niagara this season.
Delaney's assist was her team-leading 22nd point of the season and moved her into sole possession of eighth place on RMU's single-season point list.
After having nearly two weeks off, Robert Morris came out of the gates strong as it earned a power play fewer than two minutes into the proceedings. It did not take long for the Colonials to capitalize and take an early edge--Imbrogno collected the puck in the left slot and drew the attention of the defense as she skated toward the right post. With the Niagara netminder ready for a shot, Imbrogno instead slipped a backhand pass in front of the net to Newsom who was all alone at the back door and easily deposited the puck into the goal.
Robert Morris kept the pressure on by securing another power-play chance fewer than a minute after the goal, but Niagara was able to kill it off the second time around.
Niagara received its first man advantage at the 7:37 mark of the opening frame, but the RMU penalty-kill corps was up to the task and held the Purple Eagles without a shot on goal over the two-minute opportunity. Niagara was granted another chance to tie the game when it received its second power play at the 13:40 mark, and this time it was able to take advantage. Kristen Richards' slap shot from center ice found the back of the net to knot the game, 1-1.
After tying the game in the latter stages of the first, Niagara kept its momentum going, due in part to some good fortune, by tallying the go-ahead goal at the 8:39 mark of the second. Jessica Hitchcock's shot initially hit the post and appeared as if it might stay out of the cage, but the puck snuck across the goal line to put the Purple Eagles on top, 2-1.
RMU looked poised to respond as it took each of the next three shot attempts after the ensuing faceoff before senior assistant captain Sara O'Malley (Guelph, Ontario / Hamilton Hawks) had a try ring off the pipe and away from the net.
The Colonials' potential momentum was interrupted by a penalty as RMU was forced to go on the penalty kill at the 16:55 mark. Robert Morris kept Niagara at bay over the next two minutes to keep the deficit at one after 40 minutes were completed.
Robert Morris had some chances to knot the score early in the third as it opened the stanza by taking seven of the first nine shot attempts. The Purple Eagles were able to hold off the RMU push, though, and proceeded to add an insurance tally at the 12:49 mark to set the final margin.
Delaney went 10-of-15 at the faceoff dot for RMU while sophomore Jennifer Kindret (Winnipeg, Manitoba / BC Breakers) led the squad with four shots on goal.
RMU will seek to split the weekend series when the two teams return to the ice Saturday. First puck drop is set for 2:05 p.m.
