Troy, N.Y. - It was a dramatic night up in New York as the Robert Morris University women's ice hockey team came from behind to beat Rensselaer 5-3 splitting the two-game series this afternoon. The Colonials, who improved to 4-5-1, saw five different players score in the victory.
Rensselaer took momentum of the game into their own hands scoring late into the first period on a power-play opportunity giving them a short-lived 1-0 advantage. With only three minutes elapsing Sophomore Morgan Beikirch (Livonia, N.Y. / Syracuse Stars) tickled the thread beating goaltender Emily Ford for her third goal of the season tying the game at one a piece.
RPI would go on in the second period to score two-goals back-to-back giving them a two-goal advantage. The Engineers had the RMU penalty-killing squads number, scoring on the power-play 5:43 into the second period, marking four extra-man goals in the series. The third Engineers goal of the game came 49 seconds later, this time at even strength.
Sophomore Kristen Miles (London, Ont. / London Devilletes) answered the Rensselaer scoring barrage with a goal of her at the 7:09 mark and cutting the score to 3-2.
What seemed like a case of déjà vu for the Colonials turned out to be a bad nightmare for the Engineers as the Colonials rallied in the third period with three unanswered scores.
Sophomore Alissa Dorman (Madison, Wisc. / Madison Capitals) started the comeback with a strike of her own less than seven minutes in to tie the game at 3-3.
Freshman Jordan Riley (Hamilton, Ont. / Stoney Creek Sabres) took on the role of hero for Robert Morris scoring the game-winning goal on a pass from Freshman Jacki Gibson (Burlington, Ont. / Burlington Barracudas) to give the Colonials a 4-3 lead with six minutes to play.
Freshman Chelsea Walkland (Pittsford, N.Y. / Rochester Edge) capped off the victory with an empty net score in the final minute.
Sophomore Brianne McLaughlin (Sheffield Village, Oh. / Ohio Flames) made 29 saves in net and improving her record to 3-3-0 for the season.
The women's ice hockey team will travel to Potsdam, N.Y. for a two-game series against Clarkson on Friday November 10 and Saturday November 11, with game times slated for 3:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.
