Box Score Troy,
N.Y. - In game two of a non-conference series with the
Rensselaer Engineers, the Robert Morris
University women's hockey team came back from 1-0 deficit to tie RPI 1-1,
in an overtime contest.
In the rematch, it would be the Engineers who would get
on the board first after junior forward Jordan Smelker scored just 1:12 into
the first period. The goal for Smelker
is her first of the season. Sophomore
Ali Svoboda and freshman Alexa Gruschow were awarded with the first and
secondary assists on the RPI score.
Despite a well-played and hard fought second period, the
Colonials nor the Engineers were able to register a goal throughout the 20
minutes of play. RMU outshot RPI 10-3 in
the second frame and killed RPI's only power
play chance of the period.
After 15 minutes of play in the third period, RMU would
tie the game at one-a-piece when senior forward Kelsey Thomas (Hamilton, Ontario / Hamilton Hawks) buried a
redirected rebound from the right of the crease with 4:43 left in the
contest. Sophomore forward Maddie Collias (Roseville, Mich / Belle
Tire) redirected a shot from senior assistant captain Jamie Joslin (Richmond Hill, Ontario / Aurora Panthers) to Thomas
for the game-tying goal. The game-tying
goal is the second of the season for Thomas and the second that has forced an
overtime period. The goal moves Thomas'
season total for points to 14, a team high.
The assist for Collias and Joslin mark their fourth and fifth of the
season.
The 1-1 tie at the end of regulation would force a five
minute overtime period.
For the first 47 seconds of the overtime period, RPI
continued its power play opportunity from the third period, but the Colonial
penalty kill unit effectively stifled
the Engineer's chance.
For the remainder of the overtime frame, RMU primarily kept
possession of the puck in the offensive zone.
The Colonials had a play power opportunity that lasted only 40 seconds as
the RPI penalty came at 4:20 of the period.
Despite RMU dominating the overtime period, the contest ended in a tie.
The tie with the Engineers moves the Colonials unbeaten
streak to six-straight games. In the
past six contests, Thomas is the only RMU skater to register a double-digit
point performance with 10. The senior
has scored three goals and passed out seven assists throughout the unbeaten
streak. The overtime contest this
afternoon marks the third of the season for RMU and the second that has ended
in a draw.
Senior goaltender Kristen DiCiocco (Niagara Falls, Ontario / Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres) received the
start between the pipes for RMU.
DiCiocco registered a 19-save performance on the afternoon. In the Colonials six game unbeaten streak,
DiCiocco has started in five of the contests to register 107 saves, a .930 save percentage and a 1.68
goals against average.
Robert Morris will have a 12 day break from game action
before it travels to Syracuse, N.Y. to take on the Syracuse Orange in its
second CHA series of the season. Faceoff
is set for 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 30 and 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 1.