Bemidji, Minn. – The final score may read 4-4, but the Robert Morris University team is certainly counting their 2-1 shootout upset victory over No. 9 Bemidji State Saturday night at the Sanford Center as a big win for the young squad.
 
The freshman class stepped right in and made a huge impact for the Colonials (0-1-1), as four rookies combined for seven points and first-year goalie Lauren Bailey stopped 16 pucks to keep RMU in the game.
 
Freshman Amber Rennie scored her first collegiate goal in the second period to put the Colonials ahead, 3-2, and netted another goal in the last few seconds of the third to send it into overtime. Freshman defenseman Kirsten Welsh dished out two assists and fellow rookies Maggie LaGue and Sarah Quaranta each tallied a helper. Quaranta finished the night +1. Redshirt sophomore Brittany Howard, in her second game back after a season stunted by injury in 2014-15, recorded two points on two assists.
 
It only took 35 seconds for Bemidji State (1-0-1) to get on the board, as captain Hanna Moher poked one through the Colonials defense right in front of the net to give the home team an early advantage.
 
After a disappointing showing in the first game of the series, the Colonials' power play unit proved they came to play in their first opportunity of tonight's game. Junior Mikaela Lowater found the back of the net just seconds into the one-man advantage and cut the Beavers' lead to one.  LaGue was credited with her first career assist on the goal, and junior Mackenzie Johnston earned her first helper of the season.
 
Robert Morris opened the second period on the power play, but similar to the first frame, Bemidji State put the puck in the net just seconds into the period, this time shorthanded. After a long review by the officials, however, the scoring play was ruled offsides before the puck went in, and the goal was no good.
 
At 7:53 into the second period, sophomore Natalie Fraser wrapped one around the net to tie the game at two goals apiece. Rennie then recorded the Colonials' 3-2 go-ahead goal, her first collegiate score, from Welsh and Howard, but the Beavers evened the score quickly as senior Kristin Huber found a wide open net and sent one sailing past starting goalie Jessica Dodds to make it 3-3.
 
Bemidji State regained the lead with 3:31 remaining in the second period, when senior Stephanie Anderson went top shelf on Dodds, which led Robert Morris to pull the junior goalie and replace her with Bailey. The freshman netminder stayed in goal for the rest of the game and made crucial stops during a late Beavers 5-on-3 to stave off Bemidji State. Bailey made 16 of 33 RMU saves on the night.
 
With just 18 seconds remaining in the third, Rennie scored another clutch goal for the Colonials to tie the game and send it into overtime. After five minutes of bonus hockey, neither team scored, and the game went into a shootout.
 
After three rounds, Robert Morris won the shootout, 2-1, on goals from Rennie and senior captain Ashley Vesci.
 
Robert Morris remains on the road for one more series before their home opener on Friday, Oct. 9. Next stop is a trip to Hamilton, N.Y., to take on Colgate in another non-conference series on Friday, Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 3 at 4 p.m. Sophomore defenseman Alexis Joyce made it a 2-0 affair for the Beavers with her second goal of the season with 13 minutes remaining in the first.
 
Quoting Head Coach Paul Colontino:
On continuing to battle back from multiple deficits…
I know one of the things that our players take incredibly seriously is just the will and the desire to play 60 minutes every night and 65 when [the game] demands it. They never quit. They never gave up. They really battled back and they got the reward at the end. Obviously, I think [the game] counts as a tie, but the moral victory of the shootout, it's a great moment for them to win here. We're proud of them.
 
On killing a late 5-on-3…
Just the heart there, the will power, just blocking shots, scrambling, it's always tough because it's the first series of the year. We haven't really seen a 5-on-3 in action and then to kill one late like that, the way people stepped up and got it done is huge. It was definitely a nice growing period for us.
 
On Lauren Bailey making vital stops down the stretch…
She jumped in like we expect all our players to do. You're ready for the moment at all times whether it's one shift, one period. She got the call, she stepped in and was able to get it done and stop those pucks and give us a chance.
 
On the impressive play of the freshmen…
It's literally the first weekend for our freshmen. Obviously from Pittsburgh to Bemidji is a nice little road trip so it gave our team a chance to bond. The freshmen, you've got to give them full credit. They stepped right in, all of them. Every one of them stepped in and played like veterans. It's a great opportunity for them to grow in the sense that if this is their first step, I can't wait to see the fifth and sixth.
 
Early Streaks
Freshmen Sarah Quaranta and Kirsten Welsh posted points in both games this weekend. Both rookies recorded their first career assist in RMU's 3-2 loss to BSU. Welsh tallied two assists in today's game, while Quaranta added one and finished +1 on the night.
 
Freshman Phenoms
Four members of the freshman class accounted for seven of the Colonials' points in tonight's game, including two timely goals from rookie Amber Rennie.
 
 
Follow RMU Women's Hockey:
@RMUWHockey
Robert Morris University Athletics

Tweet #ColonialPride