Box Score

Rochester, N.Y. – Robert Morris University women's hockey junior forward Rebecca Vint (Caledon, Ontario / Brampton Junior Thunder) scored a short-handed goal with 16:44 left in the game, lifting the Colonials to a 2-1 victory over RIT this afternoon.

No. 9 Robert Morris (22-6-3, 11-4-2 CHA) broke a three-game winless drought with the victory. RIT (13-15-3, 8-7-2 CHA) dropped its third-straight contest despite 35 saves from Tigers goaltender Ali Binnington.

The Tigers jumped out to an early 1-0 lead after freshman forward Mackenzie Johnston (Barrie, Ontario / Etobicoke Dolphins) was sent to the box for roughing. Erin Zach fired a shot on net that was deflected by Lindsay Gregg and snuck past freshman goaltender Jessica Dodds (London, Ontario / London Jr. Devilettes) for the early advantage.

The Colonials had their opportunities in the first period, evidenced by a 16-7 shot advantage. After Gregg's goal, RMU earned a 5-on-3 power play for 1:07, but shots from Vint, freshman forward Brittany Howard (St. Thomas, Ontario / Burlington Jr. Barracudas), and senior assistant captain Thea Imbrogno (Etobicoke, Ontario / Mississauga Jr. Chiefs) were all saved.

The second period provided the equalizer, as senior defenseman Anneline Lauziere (St. Thomas, Ontario / London Jr. Devilettes) nabbed her fifth goal of the season. Howard collected the secondary assist as the freshman found the senior near the crease, giving Lauziere enough time to sneak it five-hole past Binnington.

Just three minutes into the final frame, senior captain Kristen Richards (Toronto, Ontario / Niagara University) was called for elbowing, giving RIT its fourth power play of the game. However, Vint would notch her third short-handed tally of the season as she beat Binnington on a breakaway. The goal was also her 21^st of the season, pulling her within one of tying her own single-season record of 22.

With 2:54 left in regulation, junior forward Katie Fergus (Oakville, Ontario / Burlington Jr. Barracudas) and the Tigers' Marissa Maugeri were sent to the box for respective cross-checking and high sticking calls. RIT called timeout and pulled Binnington to set up a 5-on-4, then earned a 6-on-4 less than a minute later when junior defenseman Kelsey Gunn (Smith Falls, Ontario / Niagara University) was caught for tripping. However, Dodds made four saves and senior assistant captain Brandi Pollock (Virden, Manitoba / Westman Wildcats) blocked two shots to preserve the victory.

Dodds earned her 19^th win of the season by stopping 22 of the 23 shots she faced.

Vint's game-winning goal was her sixth of the season, and the third she's scored with the game tied in the third period. The junior beat Syracuse on Nov. 23 with 1:13 left, then scored the decider of the Nov. 26 game at Ohio State with 15:47 remaining in the final stanza.

Robert Morris will look to sweep the season series with RIT tomorrow in another game that will play a big part in seeding for the CHA Tournament. Tomorrow's face-off is scheduled for 2:05 p.m. from Ritter Arena.