Robert Morris Colonials (24-8-3, 13-5-2 CHA)* vs. Bemidji State Beavers (11-21-4, 8-17-3 WCHA)*
Friday, Sept. 26, 2014 / 84 Lumber Arena – Pittsburgh, Pa. / 7:05 PM
Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014 / 84 Lumber Arena – Pittsburgh, Pa. / 3:05 PM(* - records from 2013-14 season)Top Story – Robert Morris is one of eight NCAA Division I women's hockey teams to open up regular season play this weekend with its home series against Bemidji State. The Colonials are beginning the season at home for the fifth-straight year, having previously hosted a season opener once before 2010. RMU joined Quinnipiac as the only two NCAA Division I teams to play an exhibition last weekend as the Colonials topped the Bluewater Hawks of the Provincial Women's Hockey League (PWHL), 10-2. The victory improved RMU's all-time record to 12-0-0 in exhibition contests. In those 12 games, the Colonials have outscored their opponents, 69-12.
Series History – Robert Morris is 3-5-0 against Bemidji State in its history, but has recently held the upper hand due in part to a sweep last season. The Colonials stopped a four-game losing skid to the Beavers on Oct. 11, 2013 with a 2-1 win, then completed the sweep with a 3-0 victory the following afternoon. RMU's other win against BSU came on Nov. 17, 2007 as a 27-save shutout from Daneca Butterfield pushed the Colonials to a 1-0 victory. The last time RMU hosted the Beavers was in the last days of 2011 when the two teams played as part of the RMU Hockey Showcase. The first game was played at CONSOL Energy Center, while the second was held at the friendly confines of 84 Lumber Arena.
Scouting Bemidji State – Bemidji State finished the 2013-14 season at 11-21-4 overall and 8-17-3 in Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) play. The Beavers bring back 79 percent of their scoring from a season ago, including junior forward Kaitlyn Tougas who paced BSU with eight goals, 14 assists, and 22 points. Returning between the pipes is sophomore Brittni Mowat, who earned All-WCHA Rookie Team honors after posting a 2.45 goals against average and a .918 save percentage in 33 contests. Mowat finished with a record of 10-18-4 and registered shutouts against Lindenwood, Minnesota-Duluth, and Minnesota State. The Beavers are led by new head coach Jim Scanlan, who took over for retired Steve Sertich in March.
Last Time Out – Robert Morris opened up the 2014-15 campaign with a 10-2 win over the Bluewater Hawks of the PWHL in exhibition play.
Eight different Colonials scored a goal, while 14 of the 19 skaters collected at least a point. Sophomore forward
Maeve Garvey led the way with two third period goals and an assist, while senior forward
Katie Fergus tallied the first and sixth RMU goals of the contest.
All three goaltenders –
Courtney Vinet,
Jessica Dodds, and
Carley Catherine – saw time in the game, combining to stop nine of 11 shots.
The 10-goal output is the second most the Colonials have scored in an exhibition, trailing only the 12 goals they scored on Sept. 23, 2011 against Penn State.
Opening Weekend History – The Colonials have gotten off to a decent start in their last four opening weekends, compiling a record of 5-3-0 in those games. RMU has knocked off three different nationally-ranked foes in the season's opening series as those wins came in a three-season stretch from 2008-09 to 2010-11.
The most notable of those victories happened on Oct. 3, 2008 when the Colonials stunned No. 3 Minnesota, 3-2, behind Brianne McLaughlin's 63 save performance.
The following year, RMU used two goals from Sara O'Malley to knock off No. 4 Minnesota-Duluth, 4-1.
The Colonials would pick up their third opening weekend victory over a nationally-ranked win with a 5-4 victory over No. 10 Providence.
Thea Imbrogno led the team with a goal and two assists in that game.
Strong Starters – Senior forward
Rebecca Vint has been a strong starter in her career at Robert Morris as she's tallied four goals and five assists in six opening weekend games. Vint dished out two assists in a 3-2 overtime win over RPI last season and opened up her career with two goals and a helper against Lindenwood on Oc.t 7, 2011.
Classmate
Katie Fergus also began her career with a bang that weekend, as she tallied three goals and two assists en route to the CHA Rookie of the Week award.
Know Your Enemy – Five current Colonial skaters have registered at least a point against Bemidji State in their careers.
Senior forward
Rebecca Vint has had the most success against the Beavers, tallying two goals and two assists in four games. She scored on a penalty shot on Oct. 12, 2013 and collected two points at the RMU Hockey Showcase on Dec. 30, 2011.
Like Vint, sophomore forwards
Maeve Garvey and
Brittany Howard are also averaging a point per game against BSU. Garvey scored the deciding goal in the Colonials' 2-1 victory over the Beavers on Oct. 11, 2013, while Howard registered a goal and a helper the next day.
Goaltenders
Courtney Vinet and
Jessica Dodds combined to stop 50 of 51 shots against BSU last season, with a late third period goal in the first game being the only blemish.
The 100 Club – Senior forward
Katie Fergus played in the 100th game of her career in the CHA Semifinals last season, becoming the 29th player in program history to reach the century mark.
Five other seniors are within striking distance of "The 100 Club" this season, including one –
Maddie Collias – who could reach the mark at the end of this weekend.
Rebecca Vint and
Katelyn Scott need to play in three and four contests, respectively, to reach 100 career games played.
Erin Staniewski is 20 games shy of the century mark.
Kelsey Gunn is 13 games away from 10, although she played 26 of those at Niagara University in 2011-12.
New assistant coach
Chelsea Walkland is the program's all-time leader for games played with 140.
O Captain, My Captain – Senior forward
Rebecca Vint will serve as captain in 2014-15, becoming the seventh different Colonials to don the "C" in program history.
Joining her as assistant captains are classmates
Maddie Collias and
Katelyn Scott, and junior forward
Ashley Vesci.
This is the fourth-straight season in which someone new as served as captain. Whitney Pappas was the last RMU played to wear the "C" for more than one season, in 2009-10 and 2010-11.
New Faces – The Colonials have welcomed five new freshmen and two new coaches to the program this season.
The RMU rookies hail from North Carolina, Ontario, and Wisconsin. Three of them are forwards (
Jessica Gazzola,
Katherine Murphy, and
Amanda Pantaleo), while the other two will line up at defenseman (
Leah Carey and
Natalie Fraser).
In addition, the Colonials have added alumna
Chelsea Walkland and former Mercyhurst star
Kelley Steadman to the coaching staff.
Walkland, who donned the RMU colors from 2006-10, previously coached Oswego State and RIT. Steadman has been playing professional with HC Tornado Moscow and with the U.S. Women's National Team.
A Household Name – For the first time in program history, Robert Morris was recognized in both national preseason polls.
The Colonials, fresh of a stretch of 13 straight appearances in both the USCHO and USA Today / USA Hockey Magazine rankings, earned two and nine points from those respective polls this week.
In 2012-13, RMU received one vote in the USCHO Preseason Coaches' Poll, marking the first time it had ever been recognized by the national preseason rankings.
The Little Things – Coaches often emphasize that the "little things" can often help you win games, and that was no different for the Colonials in 2013-14.
RMU finished the season with the first best penalty kill in the nation and the top ranked unit in conference, stopping 88.3 percent of its opportunities.
The Colonials also didn't allow many shots to reach their goaltenders. The defense allowed just 864 shots on goal, good enough for seventh in the nation. RMU's differential of shots on goal for versus against was ranked ninth nationally at +207.
A Glory Maple – Sophomore goaltender
Jessica Dodds participated in Canada's National Women's Program strength and conditioning camp this past May.
The invitation list consisted of 53 candidates for Canada's National Women's Under-18 team and 51 candidates for Canada's National Women's Development Team.
Dodds was one of two CHA student-athletes who attended camp.
