Hamilton, N.Y. – A late surge in the third period wasn't enough to make up for an undisciplined first 20 minutes of play from the Robert Morris University women's hockey team, as the Colonials fell to the Raiders of Colgate, 5-3, Friday evening at Starr Rink in Hamilton, N.Y.
 
Freshman Amber Rennie recorded her third goal in two games on a power play tally in the second period from Brittany Howard and Mikaela Lowater. Howard ended the night with two points (1g, 1a) and took a team-leading six shots.
 
RMU (0-2-1) applied pressure late in the third and scored two goals within a 36-second span. Senior Ashley Vesci caught a pass from junior Rikki Meilleur and sent a wrist shot right past the glove of Colgate's (1-0-0) Ashlynne Rando at the 14:43 mark.  Howard followed up with her first goal of the season on an assist from top-line defenseman Maggie LaGue to reduce the Raiders' lead to one, 4-3. The Colonials returned from a timeout with 1:40 remaining and  goaltender Jessica Dodds on the bench to better their odds of netting a game-tying goal, but the Raiders scored an empty-net goal on a 3-on-1 rush to close the game and secure a 5-3 victory.
 
Successive second period power plays late in the frame generated some momentum for Robert Morris after falling behind early in period one. With less than five minutes remaining in the second, Rennie was the first to convert on the one-man advantage and put the Colonials on the board to make it a 3-1 affair, with Colgate (1-0-0) still comfortably in the lead.
 
The Colonials failed to cash in on a pair of power plays early in the first period and began their own parade to the penalty box when they committed four consecutive two-minute minors in a four-minute window. Following a Colgate goal to put the Raiders up, 1-0, just 50 seconds into the game, the home team capitalized on one of many one-man advantages in the first 20 minutes of action to increase their lead to two with 2:34 to go before the first intermission.
 
Colgate outshot RMU, 31-24, but both teams netted one power play goal apiece. The Colonials blocked 13 shots compared to the Raiders' five, and just barely lost the faceoff battle, 30-32.
 
Game 2 between the Colonials and the Raiders commences at 4 p.m. tomorrow afternoon at Starr Rink.
 
 
Rennie On the Rise
Freshman Amber Rennie's second period power play goal was her third goal in two games for the Colonials. She leads RMU in goals (3) and is second on the team in points (3) and shot percentage (.600).
 
She's Back
Upon her return from a sophomore season stopped short due to injury, Brittany Howard has amassed a team-leading four points (1g, 3a) in three games played.
 
Block Party
The Colonials have blocked more shots than their opponent in all three games played this season.
 
 
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Robert Morris University Athletics