Robert Morris Colonials (2-6-0, 0-0-0 CHA) vs. Northeastern Huskies (1-1-2, 0-0-0 WHEA)
Friday, October 24, 2014 / 84 Lumber Arena – Pittsburgh, Pa.  / 7:05 PM
Saturday, October 25, 2014 / 84 Lumber Arena – Pittsburgh, Pa. / 3:05 PM

Top Story – After sweeping St. Lawrence last season, the Saints returned the favor this past weekend as they took two games from Robert Morris. The Colonials were swept for the second time this season after avoiding two losses in a row all of 2013-14. RMU returns home this weekend to face Northeastern, who like St. Lawrence, is receiving votes in both national rankings. This tilt at 84 Lumber Arena is the last in almost a month, as the Colonials follow this series with two consecutive weekends on the road before having a weekend off on Nov. 14-15.


 
Series History – The Colonials are 1-3-1 against Northeastern in program history, with the lone win coming in overtime on Jan. 21, 2007 thanks to a Jessica Riley goal from her twin Jordan and Alissa Dorman. Two seasons ago, RMU tied the No. 7 Huskies, 3-3, in Boston behind the strength of a Kelsey Thomas hat trick. The Colonials last hosted Northeastern in 2010, with the Oct. 17 tilt being a part of the Pittsburgh College Hockey Showcase. In its first game at CONSOL Energy Center, RMU fell to the Huskies, 4-3. Cobina Delaney, Whitney Pappas, and Sara O'Malley all scored for the Colonials, who fell to 1-3-0 in games held at the Pittsburgh Penguins' home arena.
 
Scouting Northeastern – The Huskies are on the cusp of both the USCHO and USA Today / USA Hockey Magazine rankings, garnering 10 and 15 points from those respective polls. Northeastern has faced a full slate of CHA teams this season, earning a 4-0 victory at Mercyhurst and ties at Syracuse and RIT. Offensively, the Huskies are led by junior forward and U.S. Women's National Team member Kendall Coyne, who has tallied four points (2g, 2a) in the early parts of this season. Senior goaltender Chloe Desjardins has played every minute between the pipes for Northeastern, posting a 1.44 goals against average and a save percentage of .943.
 
Last Time Out – After Robert Morris swept St. Lawrence last season in January, the Saints returned the favor this past weekend, with 8-2 and 3-1 victories over the Colonials.
 
In this past Friday's contest, SLU scored the first three goals and the last three tallies in an 8-2 win.
 
Ashley Vesci lit the lamp for RMU in the second period, as she fired a wrist shot from the point that zigzagged through traffic and found netting under the crossbar. The power-play tally came off a turnover, gaining a rare unassisted distinction.
 
Katie Fergus scored in the third period off passes from Katherine Murphy and Megan Eady. Murphy rifled a shot on the power-play that the Saints goaltender initially stopped, but Fergus batted away at the rebound, eventually breaking through for her second goal of the season.
 
Courtney Vinet and Jessica Dodds combined to stop 28 of 36 shots in the loss.
 
The rubber match also went SLU's way, 3-1.
 
The Colonials' lone goal came in the third period from Rikki Meilleur. Meilleur's team-leading third goal of the season was assisted by Mikaela Lowater.

Dodds made 29 saves in the defeat.
 
Know Your Enemy – In the last three seasons, Robert Morris has only faced Northeastern once - on Oct. 26, 2012.
 
Rebecca Vint dished out two assists in that contest. Her first was the secondary assist on Thomas' first-period goal at the 16:33 mark of the frame, while her second was the lone helper on Thomas' second tally almost exactly 20 minutes later.
 
Seven other current Colonials played in that contest. Maddie Collias went 8-14 on faceoffs, while Kelsey Gunn (3), Katelyn Scott (2), and Erin Staniewski (2) all generated multiple shots on net.
 
Battling the Best – Robert Morris has possibly played the nation's toughest schedule through the early parts of 2014-15, and it doesn't get any easier as the season goes on.
 
The Colonials have played Bemidji State and St. Lawrence, two teams who have been receiving votes in both national polls. Another team in the 'receiving votes' category, Northeastern, comes to town this weekend.
 
Next weekend, RMU will travel upstate to play two games with rival No. 8/9 Mercyhurst and also has a January home series against No. 7 Quinnipiac. The Colonials also will host Ohio State on Black Friday, a team that's receiving votes from USA Today / USA Hockey Magazine.
 
In total, RMU has played or will play 13 games against teams currently recognized by a national poll.
 
The Meilleur's New Role – Rikki Meilleur might have come into this season with only a goal and an assist to her name, but that has changed in a big way through eight games of 2014-15.
 
Meilleur leads the team in goals with three, tripling her freshman total by lighting the lamp in three consecutive weekends.
 
Currently, she is in a three-way tie for third in goals among CHA players. Among the players in the CHA who have scored three or more goals, only Meilleur and Penn State's Amy Petersen have tallied all of theirs on even-strength opportunities.
 
Networking with the Colonials – Fans can follow the Colonials on Twitter @RMUWHockey to get updates on the team throughout the season. The account has the 16th most followers among NCAA Division I women's hockey teams at 1,184.

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