Pittsburgh, Pa. - The Robert Morris University women's hockey team concluded exhibition play this afternoon in terrific fashion by claiming a perfect 4-0 record after beating the Oakville Hornets 7-1.
For the second consecutive game, the Colonials hit the ice relentlessly as they scored the first two goals of the game twenty-six seconds into the first period. RMU would tally two more goals in the first, one in the second and two in third.
After winning the opening faceoff, sophomore forward Rebecca Vint (Caledon, Ontario / Brampton Jr. Thunder) broke for the net to receive the puck from linemate Cobina Delaney (Stittsville, Ontario / Ottawa Jr. Senators) to notch the first goal of the game just 11 seconds into play. Delaney's pass to Vint was set up by senior forward Kelsey Thomas (Hamilton, Ontario / Hamilton Hawks). The trio of Vint, Delaney and Thomas would again combine for a goal just 13 seconds after the first score. Vint would tally her second goal of the game after receiving a pass from Thomas and sliding the puck into the circle around Oakville netminder Camille Leonard.
The Colonials registered their third goal of the first period when senior assistant captain Jamie Joslin (Richmond Hill, Ontario / Aurora Panthers) found Delaney after a pass from fellow defenseman Brandi Pollock (Virden, Manitoba / Westman Wildcats). Delaney would find the net to tally her third point of the game in just 12 minutes of play.
After successfully killing off RMU's first power-play of the game, Oakville would answer with a goal of its own at 14:58 in the period, but the Colonials were not done yet. With four minutes remaining in the first period, freshman forward Ashley Vesci (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Lawrence Academy) perfectly placed a pass in front of the net for linemate Kristen Richards (Toronto, Ontario / Niagara University). Richards handled the pass flawlessly into the net to register her third point in two games.
The second period proved to be the most successful for Oakville as the Hornets only allowed one RMU goal. With 9:56 on the clock, sophomore defenseman Kelsey Gunn (Smith Falls, Ontario / Niagara University) would set up Thomas for a shot out front that was deflected into the goal by Vint. The assist for Gunn marked her first point in RMU exhibition play, while the goal eventually guided Vint to be the Colonials leading scorer of the game with three goals.
After the Colonials remained quiet for the first twelve minutes of the third period, sophomore forward Katelyn Scott (Brighton, Mich. / Belle Tire) found classmate Maddie Collias (Roseville, Mich. / Belle Tire) at center ice. Collias would skate the puck into the Oakville zone before firing a strong side shot that put the Colonial's ahead by five. Junior defenseman Brandi Pollock (Virden, Manitoba / Westman Wildcats) was responsible for the secondary assist on the Collias score.
After RMU's first line scored the opening goals of the contest, the Colonials wrapped up their scoring in a similar manner. With six minutes to play in the third period, Vint would win the faceoff passing the puck to Delaney, who would find Thomas out front. Thomas was burry the puck into the top right corner of the net scoring the last goal for Robert Morris.
The starting forward line that consisted of Delaney, Vint and Thomas would tally 5 goals and six assists allowing them to contribute 11 of the team's 19 points.
Senior netminder Delayne Brian (Winnipeg, Manitoba / Wayne State University) got the start for RMU as she earned her first victory in exhibition play. Brian recorded 21 saves on the afternoon and stopped a game-high 10 shots in the second period.
Robert Morris had a commanding edge in the shot department, 49-22, for the fourth time in four games and also won the faceoff battle, 33-22. In the four exhibition contests the Colonials out-shot their opponents by 124 shots (181-57) and won 140 of 221 faceoffs. The Colonials tallied multiple power-play goals in all their preseason games as they executed on five power-play opportunities and successfully killed off every opponent power-play chance.
Thomas and Vint tied for the team lead for points during the exhibition contests with eight each while Delaney contributed six.
With its preseason schedule now complete, Robert Morris will look to carry over its momentum when regular season games begin next weekend. RMU opens with a series at home as the Colonials will take on the Bulldogs of Yale Friday, October 19 at 7:05 p.m. and the Princeton Tigers Saturday at 4:05 p.m.
