Pittsburgh, Pa. – The
Robert Morris University women's hockey team was unable to hold an early lead, falling victim to a sweep at the hands of Bemidji State University, 3-1, from 84 Lumber Arena this afternoon.
Bemidji State (2-0, 0-0 WCHA) becomes the first team since 2012-13 to sweep Robert Morris (0-2, 0-0 CHA) in a two-game series. The Colonials last dropped the season's first two games in 2007-08 when they fell to Mercyhurst and Wisconsin by identical 3-0 scores.
After going scoreless in the first 80 games of her career, senior defenseman
Erin Staniewski has lit the lamp in consecutive contests. With RMU on the power play in the first period, Staniewski gathered a pass from classmate
Maddie Collias and fired a shot from almost the same spot she scored from last night. Senior assistant captain
Katelyn Scott gained the secondary assist on the goal.
Senior goaltender
Courtney Vinet stood tall in the opening stanza, stopping all nine shots she faced – including a few attempts from point-blank range. However, the Beavers would break through in the second period with a goal on their final shot of the frame.
BSU picked up the deciding goal less than eight minutes into the third period. The Beavers would set the final with less than a minute remaining, as a turnover off the faceoff allowed BSU to throw the puck into an empty net.
Vinet stopped 21 of the 23 shots she faced.
Collias became the 30th player in program history to don the Colonial colors in 100 games this afternoon. She joins senior forward
Katie Fergus as active players to reach the century mark, while four others – Scott, Staniewski,
Rebecca Vint, and
Kelsey Gunn – are all within striking distance of 100 collegiate games played.
RMU outshot the Beavers, 30-24, and held BSU scoreless on both its power play opportunities.
Robert Morris looks to rebound next weekend as it heads to Maine for a non-conference tilt. The Colonials and Black Bears will open up the series on Friday, Oct. 3 at 7:00 p.m. from Harold Alfond Sports Arena.
