Box Score Pittsburgh, Pa. - Senior assistant captain Brianna Delaney (Stittsville, Ontario / NCCP Raiders) drilled home a wrist shot from point-blank range with just 6:02 remaining in regulation to break a scoreless draw and lift the Robert Morris University women's hockey team to a 1-0 triumph over Niagara in College Hockey America (CHA) action Saturday evening at the RMU Island Sports Center.
Delaney's goal was the 51st of her career, which moved her a single score shy of tying RMU's all-time goals record that Sara O'Malley set last season. In addition to being her program-record 115th career point, it was also Delaney's eighth career game-winning goal, which nudged her into a tie for all-time GWG at Robert Morris.
Delaney's difference-maker would not have occurred without a beautifully-placed pass from freshman Katie Fergus (Oakville, Ontario / Burlington Jr. Barracudas). After winning the puck along the corner boards, Fergus sent a creative diagonal pass across the back of the goal to a charging Delaney to set up the game's lone score. Fellow rookie Maddie Collias (Roseville, Mich. / Belle Tire) also collected her first-career assist, and second point, on the play after directing the puck toward Fergus.
One night after surpassing 1,000 career saves, junior goaltender Kristen DiCiocco (Niagara Falls, Ontario / Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres) tallied her third shutout of the season courtesy of a 19-save effort between the pipes. She became just the second Colonial ever to post three shutouts in a season, joining her current assistant coach Brianne McLaughlin. RMU also tied its team record for shutouts in a season as the Colonials have only allowed 22 even-strength goals in their 23 games.
DiCiocco was a key factor in Robert Morris holding Niagara scoreless on the power play for the second straight night. In fact, RMU has not conceded a power-play goal in its last three games, marking the first time the Colonials have achieved this feat in their past 117 outings. Robert Morris has killed off 17 consecutive opposition penalties overall, which ties their longest such streak of the season.
For the second evening in a row, Robert Morris owned a noticeable advantage in shots as the Colonials outshot the Purple Eagles, 31-19. RMU topped Niagara in each period in shots and has lost only once in its past 14 games when outshooting its opponent.
Saturday's affair began in similar fashion to Friday's as Niagara was once again granted a power play within the first five minutes of action. DiCiocco posted three saves during the two-minute advantage while RMU also blocked two Purple Eagle attempts. After killing off the power play, Robert Morris sprang to life as it took 11 of the game's next 15 shot attempts but was unable to break through, and the teams headed into the first intermission scoreless.
Robert Morris came out of the gates on fire in the second stanza as it took each of the frame's first nine shot attempts, and 20 of the first 24, but Niagara was able to hold off the Colonial charge. The tide of the frame shifted with eight minutes to play in the period when RMU was called for the first of the two penalties it was whistled for in the second. However, the Colonials' penalty-kill corps was up to the task, and the squads remained tied 0-0 after 40 minutes of action.
RMU appeared to grab the lead early in the third when a shot from rookie Rebecca Vint (Caledon, Ontario / Brampton Junior Thunder) looked as though it may have crossed the line, but the officials did not agree. The Colonials kept battling, though, and refused to be denied as Fergus found Delaney in the game's waning minutes to provide RMU with the only goal it would need.
After taking the lead, Robert Morris was far from finished as it was soon assessed the third period's only penalty with 3:48 to play. Niagara used its timeout at this juncture to strategize with the upcoming man-advantage chance. RMU orchestrated a strong kill as it only allowed one shot attempt during the two minutes and even produced a strong offensive chance of its own.
The Purple Eagles looked to pull their netminder in the final minute of action, but Robert Morris was able to disrupt Niagara and generate significant pressure to keep sustained 6-on-5 action from ever becoming a reality.
The Colonials also won the faceoff clashes for the second straight day and were led by a strong effort from Vint who won 12 of the 16 draws she took.
With a highly-competitive home-and-home conference series behind it, Robert Morris will have to turn right around and hit the ice for a Monday matinee at Princeton. It will not only be RMU's first-ever matchup with the Tigers but will also represent the Colonials' inaugural game on a Monday in program history. The opening puck drop is set for 3:05 p.m.
