Box Score Syracuse, N.Y. - After advancing to the College Hockey America (CHA) Semifinals for the second consecutive season, the Robert Morris University women's hockey team played its tightest game of the season against No. 3/4 Mercyhurst and held the top seed well below its average offensive output, but it wasn't enough as the Lakers claimed a 3-1 decision at Tennity Ice Pavilion Friday evening.
The defeat brings the 2010-11 campaign to a close for the Colonials while the nationally-ranked Lakers will play for the CHA Championship Saturday afternoon against the winner of Friday's second semifinal.
Despite the defeat, junior Brianna Delaney (Stittsville, Ontario / NCCP Raiders) had a record-setting day for RMU. Her second-period assist broke the single-season school record and simultaneously made her the first Colonial in program history to register 50 career helpers. Delaney's assist also pushed her season point total to an even 30, making her the first student-athlete in school history to collect at least three 30-point seasons.
Delaney's record-breaking assist was even more noteworthy since it helped her younger sister, sophomore Cobina Delaney (Stittsville, Ontario / Ottawa Senators), score. It was the second time in two days that Cobina scored courtesy of Brianna and continued a season-long trend--seven of Cobina's eight goals this season have been assisted by her older sister.
After the teams had a few minutes to settle into the playoff atmosphere, Mercyhurst was granted the game's first man-advantage at the 8:53 mark of the opening period. The Laker power play, ranked third nationally, attempted six shots with the extra skater, but the Colonial penalty-kill corps was up to the task as Robert Morris blocked three shots, and freshman netminder Meeri Räisänen (Kangasala, Finland / Espoo Blues Finland) made three saves.
Mercyhurst broke through about three minutes after the conclusion of the power play when Kelley Steadman found the net at the 13:09 mark.
After the game's initial score, play was relatively even for most of the remainder of the first frame in terms of shot attempts, but the Lakers would add an all-important insurance goal with just 56 seconds remaining in the period when Jesse Scanzano found the net.
Even though it did not enter the first intermission with momentum, Robert Morris refused to give in and soon found itself right back in the game early in the second stanza. Cobina Delaney lit the lamp at the 6:20 mark to cut the Lakers' deficit to a single goal.
The tally appeared to ignite RMU as the Colonials fought for the tying goal and took eight of the game's ensuing 11 shot attempts. Although Mercyhurst held off the charge, the Lakers still led by only one until an critical sequence with just over a minute left in the period.
Two Colonials were whistled for penalties at the same time, and the Lakers were also granted a penalty shot at the 18:56 mark. Räisänen came up huge for the Colonials by saving the one-on-one chance, but Mercyhurst still had a 5-on-3 opportunity and soon took advantage. Scanzano's second goal came with just 33 ticks left in the second and increased the Laker lead to two.
Mercyhurst received another power play early in the third, but Räisänen and the Colonial penalty-kill unit held firm despite eight Laker shot attempts over the two minutes.
The successful kill seemed to energize Robert Morris as it took nine of the game's next 12 shot attempts and tried to draw even during the middle portion of the third. Even when Mercyhurst was put back on the power play with just under five minutes remaining, RMU still continued to battle. The Colonials attempted three shots to just a lone try for the Lakers during the two-minute opportunity despite being shorthanded.
Robert Morris pulled Räisänen in search of the tying goals, but good fortune was not on its side as a shot by freshman defenseman Anneline Lauziere (St. Thomas, Ontario / London Jr. Devilettes) rung off the iron, and the Mercyhurst was able to preserve the lead.
Delaney's goal ensured that Robert Morris will carry over an impressive national streak into its 2011-12 season--the Colonials have not been shutout in their past 43 games, a program record, despite playing 13 of those contests against nationally-ranked foes. RMU's streak is currently tied with unanimous No. 1 Wisconsin for the fourth-longest in the country.
Räisänen made a career-high 41 saves in defeat for RMU.
The end of the season brings to a close the careers of Robert Morris seniors Daneca Butterfield (Kronau, Saskatchewan / Notre Dame Hounds), Sara O'Malley (Guelph, Ontario / Hamilton Hawks), Whitney Pappas (Evergreen, Colo. / Belle Tire) and Maria Stoa (Bloomington, Minn. / Eden Prarie).
O'Malley is set to graduate as the both program's all-time leader in points (97) and goals (52).
