Box Score

Pittsburgh, Pa. – In a battle of College Hockey America's (CHA) top two teams, the Robert Morris University women's hockey team outlasted the RIT Tigers, 2-1.

With the victory, Robert Morris (15-3-1, 7-1-1 CHA) matches their win total from last season when they finished 15-15-3. The victory also extends the Colonials' season-high unbeaten streak to eight games, and moves their winning streak at 84 Lumber Arena to five games.

After shots from freshman forward Brittany Howard (St. Thomas, Ontario / Burlington Jr. Barracudas) and senior assistant captain Thea Imbrogno (Etobicoke, Ontario / Mississauga Jr. Chiefs) rang off the pipe, RMU would find the back of the net with a power play goal 7:12 into the first period. Senior captain Kristen Richards (Toronto, Ontario / Niagara University) carried the puck into the offensive zone and passed it off to Howard, and then the freshman fired a shot that was saved by RIT (9-8-1, 4-2-1 CHA) goaltender Ali Binnington. However, the rebound trickled to Imbrogno, who buried the puck for her seventh goal of the season.

The Tigers tied it up a little more than five minutes into the second period. Mackenzie Stone forced a turnover and passed it up the ice to Kourtney Kunichika. Kunichika skated down the ice to create a two-on-one advantage, and then passed it to Celeste Brown, who beat freshman goaltender Jessica Dodds (London, Ontario / London Jr. Devilettes) top-shelf.

With five minutes and change remaining in the period, the Colonials held a five-on-three advantage with Brittany St. James and Lindsay Grigg sharing a seat in the penalty box. Before the public address announcer could announce Grigg's penalty, Howard gathered a pass from Imbrogno and rifled a slap-shot that beat Binnington over her right shoulder. The goal was Howard's team-leading 11^th of the season and also gave the freshman her ninth career multi-point performance.

RIT had its opportunities to tie it up again in the third period. Senior defenseman Kylie St. Louis (Windsor, Ontario / Southwest Wildcats) picked up an elbowing penalty 15 minutes into the final frame, giving the nation's tied for fourth best power play unit in goals scored a chance to notch another. However, the Tigers had a shot blocked from junior forward Rebecca Vint (Caldeon, Ontario / Brampton Junior Thunder) and another one saved by Dodds.

A holding penalty committed by freshman defenseman Mikaela Lowater (Thornhill, Ontario / Mississauga Jr. Chiefs) gave RIT their second power play of the period, but again they couldn't capitalize. Dodds made three saves on the penalty kill and Richards blocked a shot from Marissa Maugeri to keep the score at 2-1.

St. Louis returned to the box with 5:56 remaining in regulation after an interference call. However, after one shot, Howard drew a penalty in the RMU offensive zone to make it a 4-on-4. Dodds made another save with the teams at even-strength, then the Colonials almost put it away after St. Louis returned to the ice as Richards and junior forward Katie Fergus (Oakville, Ontario / Burlington Jr. Barracudas) each fired shots that challenged Binnington.

With 1:35 remaining in the period, the Tigers called a timeout to draw up a play in hopes of tying the game. However, Dodds stood tall to make one last save, and junior defenseman Kelsey Gunn (Smith Falls, Ontario / Niagara University) blocked a shot to seal the game.

RMU's penalty kill unit successfully defended four penalties and extended their streak to 26 straight kills. The Colonials haven't given up a power play goal since Nov. 15 against Lindenwood.

Dodds made 18 saves – including nine in the final 20 minutes – to improve her unbeaten record to 12-0-1.

Robert Morris returns to the ice tomorrow afternoon for the final time this semester. Puck drop for tomorrow's contest with RIT is scheduled for 3:05 p.m. at 84 Lumber Arena.