Pittsburgh, Pa. - For the second consecutive night at the RMU Island Sports Center, the Robert Morris University women's hockey team earned a victory.  The Colonials swept their first exhibition series of the 2012-13 season with a 7-2 win over the Gryphons of the University of Guelph.

Senior forward Kelsey Thomas (Hamilton, Ontario / Hamilton Hawks) led the RMU effort by tallying four points, three goals and one assist.  Thomas' four-point effort is a first for the senior in RMU exhibition play history.  The hat trick also marks a first for Thomas.

11 of the Colonials' 20 skaters recorded points on the evening, four of which registered multi-point games.  The most impressive line for RMU included the trio of Thomas, senior assistant captain Cobina Delaney (Sittsville, Ontario / Ottawa Senators) and sophomore forward Rebecca Vint (Caledon, Ontario / Brampton Jr. Thunder).  The line which head coach Paul Colontino will depend on for pivotal scoring tallied eight points, four goals and four assists.

The Colonials commanded control of the game as they tallied at least two goals in all three periods.  The first goal of the game came off the stick of Thomas at 10:10 in the first period on a power-play opportunity.  The Gryphons quickly responded 29 seconds later with a score of their own.

With 1:12 remaining the first period, Vint notched her first goal of exhibition play to put the Colonials up 2-1 before the break.  In the second period, forward Kristen Richards (Toronot, Ontario / Niagara University) scored a spectacular unassisted goal to mark her first goal as a Colonial. 

In the second period, the momentum continued to lay in the hands of the Colonials.  Junior defenseman Brandi Pollock (Virden, Manitoba / Westman Wildcats) tallied her first goal of the series off assists from freshman Leah Carlson (Copper Center, Alaska / Kenny Lake) and sophomore Katie Fergus (Oakville, Ontario / Nepean Wildcats).  Carlson's assist was the first for the Alaska native.  RMU would tally one last goal in the second period as Thomas notched another power-play score.

Eight minutes into the third period, sophomore forward Maddie Collias (Roseville, Mich. / Belle Tire) registered her first score of exhibition play.  Collias' goal was assisted by junior defensemen Kylie St. Louis (Windsor, Ontario / Southwest Wildcats) and Anneline Lauziere (St. Thomas, Ontario / London Jr. Devilettes).

Sophomore netminder Courtney Vinet (Camrose, Alberta / Edge School) earned the victory for the Colonials while stopping 14 shots on the evening.  The RMU penalty kill squad remained successful as they fought off all four of Guelph's power-play opportunities.  The Colonials had another dominating performance in the shot category as they outshot the Gryphons 37 - 16, leading to a shot count of 73 - 26 for the series.

RMU will take the upcoming weekend off before rounding out its exhibition slate.  The Colonials will face the University of Cambridge Saturday, October 13 for a 2:05 p.m. start at the RMU Island Sports Center.