Pittsburgh, Pa. – The Robert Morris University women's hockey team laid the ground work for a successful start to the season on the road last weekend, and it transferred quite nicely to home ice, when the Colonials topped RPI, 6-3, Friday evening at 84 Lumber Arena.
 
For the first time since 2011-12, the Colonials are 3-0-0 to start the season.
 
Sophomore forward Amber Rennie achieved a new career-high three points on one goal and two assists. Freshman forward Jaycee Gebhard tallied a career-best two goals in her official 84 Lumber Arena debut. Senior forward Maeve Garvey also recorded a multi-point effort with a goal and one helper. Sophomore goaltender Lauren Bailey made 27 saves.

 
Robert Morris (3-0-0) entered the third period with a 4-2 lead, and widened the gap to three goals when Rennie scored her second goal of the season to help the Colonials amass a 5-2 lead at 3:39 in the frame. RPI (1-4-0) countered to make it a two-goal game, but Garvey's empty-netter with less than one minute remaining secured victory for the home team.
 
The Colonials piled it on in the first period, but RPI responded in the second with back-to-back goals to swing the momentum in favor of the Engineers. The Colonials maintained their lead throughout the frame, and increased their advantage to two goals when Pantaleo positioned herself in front of a wide open net just as freshman Natalie Marcuzzi fed her the puck. Pantaleo went five hole on RPI goaltender Kira Bombay to put the home team ahead, 4-2.
 
Gebhard cashed in on a wide open net 1:12 into the first period to open scoring for the Colonials, with some special assistance from redshirt junior forward Brittany Howard on the assist.
 
"It was kind of a lucky play," recalled Gebhard. "Brit [Howard] ended up stepping on the puck and it came right to my stick. I didn't even know it went in until the rest of them put their hands up. But it's kind of surreal to score on your first shift at home as a freshman, so it was pretty exciting."
 
In just a short time playing with one another, Gebhard has taken quite a few notes from Howard's years of experience and style of play.
 
"Her speed is a big thing," Gebhard said of Howard. "Obviously coming from the junior level, the speed is a lot different. But playing with [Howard], you have to keep up, otherwise you're not going to get the puck. And Amber [Rennie] being a sophomore, too, helps a lot. Brit is smart. Every time she comes off [the ice] she always has something to say. She helps out. We have a good chemistry going, we're all speedy, and we all want the puck, so it's definitely a good combination."
 
The top line capitalized once more 6:11 later on Robert Morris' first power-play chance of the night. Gebhard struck again on assists from Rennie and sophomore defenseman Maggie LaGue. On a late power-play chance, junior Jessica Gazzola tipped one in to propel the Colonials to a 3-0 advantage as they skated into the locker room for the first intermission.
 
Head coach Paul Colontino was complimentary of Gebhard and the top-line chemistry he's witnessed over the past few weeks. He's been pleasantly surprised by Gebhard's quick adjustment to collegiate hockey.
 
"You never expect anybody to come out of the gate like she has, but it's definitely nice to see," Colontino admitted. "She's fitting in, she's comfortable, she's happy, and I think that's showing on the ice. I think what you're seeing is someone who's excited and having fun and playing some really good hockey."
 
RMU had another successful night on the power play, and scored twice in seven total man advantage opportunities.
 
"We've put emphasis on our special teams, both the power play and the penalty kill, just because I think as you saw tonight, you're going to see a lot of special teams, especially early on," Colontino noted. "You don't know how that's going to taper off but they've done a nice job. The team as a whole in truth has done a nice job just working at those systems and understanding that they're a big part of the game, both on offense and defense."
 
Robert Morris completes the series with RPI on Saturday, Oct. 8 at 3:05 p.m. Be our guest as we continue our "Celebration of Excellence" in women's sports with free admission for all fans.
 
 
Power Surge
For the third straight game, Robert Morris recorded multiple power-play goals. Freshman Jaycee Gebhard leads the charge with five power-play points (2G-3A-5PTS) in three games played.
 
Early Trends
Freshman Jaycee Gebhard, redshirt junior Brittany Howard, sophomore Maggie LaGue and sophomore Amber Rennie have all scored a point in all three games on the season. Howard extended her current point streak, which stems from last season, to six games.
 
Top Notch
Top-line forwards Amber Rennie, Brittany Howard, and Jaycee Gebhard, and top-line defensemen Mikaela Lowater and Maggie LaGue have accounted for 21 (8G-13A-21PTS) of the Colonials' 32 points through three games this season.
 
National Radar
Through the first three games of the season, RMU boasts top-five rankings nationally in scoring offense (t-5th), power play (4^th), and team winning percentage (t-1^st).
 
 
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