Pittsburgh, Pa. – In a weekend designated for celebrating local sports at all levels, senior captain and Pittsburgh native Ashley Vesci made Pittsburgh proud with two goals in the Robert Morris University women's hockey team's tough 4-3 overtime loss to Syracuse in its College Hockey America opener on Friday evening at 84 Lumber Arena.
 
The Colonials (4-4-1, 0-1-0 CHA) saw their four-game winning streak snapped by a red hot Syracuse (4-4-0, 2-0-0) squad.
 
Vesci, the local product and senior leader of a young Robert Morris team, put the Colonials in good position early on with two goals across periods one and two. Junior Mikaela Lowater scored the game-tying tally late in the third period to force overtime. Five different Colonials assisted on RMU's three goals of the night.
 
Syracuse freshman Dakota Derrer scored a timely first career goal early in the third period to put the Orange ahead, 3-2, but Lowater sent a long shot from the blue line to the back of the net with 3:35 remaining in the third period to earn bonus hockey for the Colonials. Just 1:02 into the overtime period, Syracuse's Megan Quinn found teammate Jessica Sibley to set up the game-winning goal for the Orange, as a hopeful opportunity came to an abrupt end for the home team.
 
It was a back-and-forth affair all night, as the Colonials and the Orange traded goals through 60 minutes of action. Robert Morris stuck first when sophomore Amanda Pantaleo fed Vesci a back door pass that helped Vesci to her first goal of the game. Syracuse tied it up just over two minutes into the second, but it Vesci made a nifty move at the net on a breakaway and lifted the Colonials to a 2-1 lead on her fourth goal of the season.
 
Syracuse's Danielle Leslie cleared the puck from the Orange defensive zone to Alysha Burriss who tied the game, 2-2, with a shot that took an unlucky bounce off of RMU goaltender Jessica Dodds' glove and snuck under the crossbar late in the second period.
 
Syracuse bested Robert Morris in shots, 36-21, however, neither team was able to capitalize on either of its power play opportunities. The Orange went 0-for-1 on the one-man advantage, and the Colonials went 0-for-3. RMU blocked 24 shots, just one shy of their season-best output of 25 recorded at Bemidji State on Sept. 26.
 
Robert Morris returns to action versus Syracuse on Saturday, Oct. 31 at 3:05 p.m. at 84 Lumber Arena.
 
 
Hot Streaks
Freshman Sarah Quaranta is now riding a five-game point and assist streak. Senior Ashley Vesci has now posted points in three consecutive games, and junior Mackenzie Johnston has posted points in her last three outings.
 
Killin' It
Robert Morris' penalty kill unit has now killed off 17 consecutive penalties.
 
Close Calls
Including tonight's game, five of the last nine meetings between RMU and SU have gone into overtime, and the last 13 matchups between the two programs have been decided by two goals or less.
 
 
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