Syracuse, N.Y. – The
Robert Morris University women's hockey team drew even with Syracuse University in the third period, but were ultimately defeated by the Orange, 2-1, this evening from Tennity Ice Pavilion.
With the victory, Syracuse (7-13-9, 5-5-5 CHA) regains third place in the College Hockey America (CHA) standings and takes over the all-time series lead with Robert Morris (9-16-3, 6-7-2 CHA) at 10-9-8.
The Orange opened up the scoring seven minutes into the game when Julie Knerr corralled a loose puck and backhanded a shot near side underneath the pad of sophomore goaltender
Jessica Dodds.
RMU gained its first scoring chance after junior assistant captain
Ashley Vesci was slashed on a breakaway attempt midway through the frame. The Colonials put together a few good chances on the man advantage, but Dodds was called upon to keep it at 1-0 with a big pad save on Larissa Martyniuk on the doorstep.
In the second period, Syracuse spent six of the first eight minutes on the power play as
Katherine Murphy and
Maddie Collias were whistled for high-sticking, while
Leah Carlson was booked for tripping. However, the RMU penalty kill unit held strong and allowed just four shots on the extended man advantage. Senior captain
Rebecca Vint almost polished off the penalty kill with a goal, but her short-handed attempt was stopped by Jenn Gilligan.
The Colonials would eventually tie it up 3:21 into the closing stanza. A long shift in the offensive zone wore down the Orange defense, freeing up senior assistant captain
Maddie Collias to slip the puck under the pad of Gilligan on the near side of the cage. Junior defenseman
Megan Eady was credited with the lone assist on Collias' fourth goal of the season.
Three and a half minutes later, Syracuse would go back in front thanks to a power play tally as Nicole Renault found a loose puck and buried into an open net.
Despite playing on the wrong side of a four-on-three late in the game, RMU managed to give itself a good chance at tying it again. However, the Colonials couldn't slot home a couple of juicy rebounds, even when Dodds skated to the bench to give the visitors another forward.
Dodds made 36 saves in the loss. Carlson led the team with three blocks.
Robert Morris is back in action tomorrow afternoon in a rematch with Syracuse. Opening face-off is set for 3:00 p.m. from Tennity Ice Pavilion.
