Rochester, N.Y. – Behind the strength of a 34-save shutout by sophomore goaltender
Jessica Dodds, the
Robert Morris University women's hockey team defeated the Rochester Institute of Technology, 2-0, this afternoon from the Gene Polisseni Center.
Robert Morris (6-11-3, 3-4-2 CHA) looked at 2015 as a fresh start, showing as much in its first clean sheet of the season. The Colonials outshot RIT (7-12-3, 1-6-1 CHA) in the first two periods and stymied a constant Tiger attack in the closing 20 minutes.
The shutout was Dodds' sixth of her young career, moving her past Kristen DiCiocco (2009-13) for second place in program history.
A back-and-forth opening frame waited until the 16:43 mark to provide the game's first goal. Sophomore forward
Maeve Garvey forced a turnover behind the RIT cage and threw a pass in front to a waiting
Rebecca Vint. The senior captain capitalized on the one-on-one opportunity against Tiger netminder Ali Binnington, beating her stick side for her fourth goal of the season and 66th of her career.
The Colonials continued to apply pressure in the middle stanza, with the first big chance coming after a Dodds stop on a two-on-one. Junior forward
Anissa Gamble carried the puck into the offensive zone before ripping a slap-shot that was deflected over the cage. Sophomore forward
Mackenzie Johnston gathered the loose biscuit and tried to sneak a wrap-around past Binnington, but the RIT goaltender got a pad on it.
Gamble had another chance following a RMU power play, as a two-on-one breakaway opened up for her and freshman forward
Amanda Pantaleo. The junior rifled a good-looking shot from just inside the circle, but it was turned away.
The Tigers came out fast after the second intermission, drawing a penalty on junior defenseman
Leah Carlson a minute into the third period. RIT put together a few good opportunities, but Dodds stopped all four shots she faced before Carlson returned to the ice.
The Colonials earned a power play with 8:13 remaining as Johnston drew a checking call. Vint and junior assistant captain
Ashley Vesci each had good looks on the man advantage, but neither player could light the lamp.
RMU found itself on the penalty kill 32 seconds after its power play ended as freshman forward
Jessica Gazzola was booked for holding. The Colonials were up to the challenge once again, with Dodds picking up four more saves during the rush.
Following an icing call, the Tigers spent their timeout with 1:28 remaining, hoping to win a face-off in their defensive zone. Vint spoiled those plans however, as her victory off the draw allowed the Colonials to kill almost a minute of time.
RIT finally was able to pull Binnington with 32 seconds remaining, but a turnover set up Johnston for an empty-netter from the blue line to set the final. Sophomores
Rikki Meilleur and
Mikaela Lowater earned the assists on the goal.
Robert Morris closes out its only January road trip tomorrow afternoon with a rematch against RIT. Opening face-off is set for 3:00 p.m. from the Gene Polisseni Center.
