Box Score

Pittsburgh, Pa. – Robert Morris University women's hockey senior assistant captain Thea Imbrogno (Etobicoke, Ontario / Mississauga Jr. Chiefs) broke the program's career record for points as the Colonials rode an impressive offensive performance to a 5-2 victory over Penn State this afternoon.

No. 9 Robert Morris (23-7-3, 12-5-2 CHA) clinches a first round bye in the College Hockey America (CHA) Tournament with the victory. Penn State (4-26-3, 1-17-1 CHA) continues its struggles against the Colonials, falling to 0-7 all-time against them.

RMU opened up the scoring with a goal at the 16:51 mark of the first period. Junior forward Katelyn Scott (Brighton, Mich. / Belle Tire) found a loose puck in front of Nittany Lion goaltender Nicole Paniccia and batted it through her five-hole for her second goal of the season. Imbrogno and sophomore defenseman Erin Staniewski (Strathroy, Ontario / London Jr. Devilettes) were credited with the assists.

The Colonials dominated the second 20 minutes, holding a shot advantage of 17-1 in the frame. Just a minute and a half into the period, freshman forward Brittany Howard (St. Thomas, Ontario / Burlington Jr. Barracudas) lit the lamp with her 16^th goal of the season. Emily Laurenzi gave RMU its first power play of the contest just 34 seconds into the stanza, and the Colonials made the most of it with a falling Howard batting in a pass from Imbrogno.

Seven minutes later, it was junior forward Katie Fergus (Oakville, Ontario / Burlington Jr. Barracudas) finding the back of the net as she deflected a shot from classmate Maddie Collias (Roseville, Mich. / Belle Tire).

Imbrogno was given a nice ovation during the second intermission as the public address announcer revealed the new program record holder in points.

Less than five minutes into the third period, RMU and Penn State traded goals. Junior forward Rebecca Vint (Caledon, Ontario / Brampton Junior Thunder) was the recipient of the Colonial tally, as she snapped one from the slot off a pass from Collias. The Nittany Lions responded 35 seconds later with a goal from Laura Bowman.

Midway through the final frame, senior captain Kristen Richards (Toronto, Ontario / Niagara University) redirected a centering pass from sophomore forward Ashley Vesci (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Lawrence Academy [Mass.]) to make it 5-1.

Amy Petersen set the final at the 15:22 mark of the period with a goal.

Freshman goaltender Jessica Dodds (London, Ontario / London Jr. Devilettes) won her 20^th game of the season after making 17 saves.

Scott was honored before the game by CHA commissioner Robert DeGregorio Jr. with her 2012-13 CHA Student-Athlete of the Year award. The junior forward was one of 11 recipients of the honor.

Vint tied her own single-season record for goals with her tally in the third period. The junior forward set the record in her freshman campaign (2011-12) with 22.

Robert Morris looks to complete a season sweep of Penn State tomorrow afternoon. The Colonials and Nittany Lions meet at 3:05 p.m. from 84 Lumber Arena. Tomorrow's contest will also be the last regular season home game for five seniors – Imbrogno, Anneline Lauziere (St. Thomas, Ontario / London Jr. Devilettes), Brandi Pollock (Virden, Manitoba / Westman Wildcats), Richards, and Kylie St. Louis (Windsor, Ontario / Southwest Wildcats).