Moon Township, Pa - Entering into only its second season of play, the Robert Morris University women's ice hockey program is looking to take the next step to become one of the premier up-and-coming teams in 2006-07.
"Our staff is very optimistic about our upcoming season," said Nate Handrahan, who is entering into his first full season as head coach. "We are going to continue to lay a foundation of success for future years to be built upon."
In their inaugural season, the Colonials accomplished many feats in their 5-24-2 record. Stemming from their first series, the team grew as a whole from picking up their first victory for the program, a 2-1 win against Vermont on the road, to attaining several weekly honors from College Hockey America, a national honor from USCHO.com for the outstanding play of their rookie goaltender, to landing two players on the all-conference squad. These milestones and the taste of victory leave Robert Morris only hungry for more in 2006-07.
"Our non-conference schedule is very challenging and the CHA is as good as it has ever been," said Handrahan.
This season will resemble more of a heavyweight fight than RMU's inaugural schedule in 2005-06. Robert Morris will go toe-to-toe with some of the top teams in collegiate hockey in 2006-07, including non-conference foes St. Cloud State, Clarkson, Providence and the 2006 national champions, Wisconsin. After the first round, the Colonials will take on their three rivals of the CHA, including perennial powerhouse Mercyhurst, Wayne State and Niagara.
After spending the previous season learning the ropes of Division I hockey, the Colonials will be armed with the best weapon the team could have to take on a grueling schedule: experience. The team will be comprised of 24 players, 15 sophomores, eight freshmen and one junior which will give Handrahan some much-needed depth at his disposal. The sophomores will provide a great sense of on-the-ice leadership to this group of freshman.
By returning 14 players from the inaugural campaign and the addition of the 10 highly talented players, the Colonials will have a solid core to grow with and bring success to the program for years to come.
Forwards (Eight returning, one lost)
Robert Morris returns eight of its forwards from the previous season, including the team's top two scorers in sophomores Morgan Beikirch (Livonia, New York / Syracuse Stars) and Kathryn Traynor (Toronto, Ontario / Toronto Jr. Aeros). Kristen Miles (London, Ontario / London Devillettes), a returning captain will provide leadership to the team on and off the ice. Joining the Colonials scoring threat are five new players to add quality and quantity to the bench.
Beikirch returns this season after leading the team in points in 2005-06. A creative player who shows dynamic abilities on the ice, she had a balanced stat sheet scoring eight times and assisting in eight goals. Beikirch became the first RMU women's ice hockey player to pick up CHA Rookie of the Week in the first weekend of competition against Maine. Complimenting her will be Traynor who proved to be a formidable foe on the ice. In her first season Traynor racked up three multi-point games, including two goals in a tie against Union College. She led the team with 10 goals, four of which came on the power-play, and finished with 15 points on the season.
Miles is an intelligent player who has great finishing skills to provide the Colonials with an extra scoring threat. She appeared in 23 games in 2005-06, but made every moment of that count, racking up three multi-point games including a goal and an assist in the home-opening series against RPI, helping her earn CHA Rookie of the Week. She tallied eight goals and three assists with 11 points.
Sophomore Ali Proodian (Canton, Michigan / Honeybaked U-19) is a face-off specialist who adds an extra offensive punch. As a freshman, she tallied eight points, including a two-point performance against Wayne State (1/27/06) with a goal and an assist.
Players to watch for this season at forward are sophomores Alissa Dorman (Madison, Wisconsin / Madison Capitals), Megan Picinic (Cliffside, New Jersey / Princeton Tigerlillies) and Angela Kost (Moon Township, Pennsylvania / Ohio Flames). Dorman displayed great vision on the ice and the potential to be a break-out goal scorer after posting five points in 2005-06. Picinic is an athletic player who has great offensive skills and Kost is a tough player with a great work ethic.
Jessica Riley (Hamilton, Ontario / Stoney Creek Sabres), Jordan Riley (Hamilton, Ontario / Stoney Creek Sabres) and Chelsea Walkland (Pittsford, New York / Rochester Edge) join the Colonials as freshmen this season. The Riley sister's and Walkland bring a strong work ethic and motivation to the ice after playing on the junior circuit. Transfer Megan Dovell (Deleuth, Georgia / Chatham College) brings experience of playing at the collegiate level to RMU while Maria Olausson (Copenhagen, Denmark / Danish National Team) adds a new level of offense to the young squad coming from the Danish National Team.
Defensemen (Five returning)
Just as the forwards, the defense is returning its core from the inaugural season. All five players will be back and are joined by three newcomers to give the Colonials some much needed depth. Sophomore Samantha Ullrich (St. Louis, Missouri / Team Illinois U-19) will lead the defense again this year as a returning captain and a CHA All-Rookie Team pick. Along side Ullrich are sophomores Laura White (Pennsauken, New Jersey / Princeton Tigerlillies) and Jenny Monteleone (Fox Chapel, Pennsylvania / Ohio Flames) to bolster the Colonials defensive corps.
Ullrich proved to be a key component on the Colonials transition game. Her play-making ability was evident on the ice as the team's leading defensive scorer, giving her nine points on the year. Right behind her in points was White who picked up four assists. Three of her assists came in two victories against Sacred Heart. Monteleone returns after playing in every game in 2005-06 when she picked up two points and made herself a physical presence on the ice. Playing in all but one game, sophomore Nicole Zynda (Livonia, Michigan / Little Caesars) showed that she is an intelligent player, while Ashley Barnett (Ann Arbor, Michigan / Belle Tire) played in 27 games and scored two points.
Adding to the defense this season, Handrahan brought in three new faces that will bring size and experience to the team. Freshmen Jacki Gibson (Burlington, Ontario / Burlington Barracudas), Mallory Giambra (Rochester, New York / Rochester Edge) and Amanda Cianculli (Billerica, Massachusettes / Billerica) are three players with lots of energy and great stick skills. All three will have a shot at seeing time this season.
Goalies (One returning)
Sophomore Brianne McLaughlin (Sheffield, Ohio / Ohio Flames) is entering her second season as the key to the Colonials. In her freshman year, she posted a .902 save percentage while making 1,088 saves. McLaughlin had nine games in which she posted 40-plus saves including a game against Mercyhurst (03/04/06) where she had a 57-save performance.
McLaughlin picked up several awards and accomplishments, including two-time CHA Defensive Player of the Week, CHA Rookie of the Week, USCHO.com National Defensive Player of the Week, 2005-06 CHA All-Rookie Team and a 2005-06 CHA All-Conference Second Team pick.
Freshmen Heather Rossi (Kunkletown, Pennsylvania / Wisconsin Wild) and Dana Timm (Southgate, Michigan / Victory Honda U-19) come in to add depth at the goalie position. Rossi and Timm are both driven competitors who should make a run at seeing some time between the pipes.
Robert Morris opens its season on September 29 when they face St. Cloud State in Minnesota.
