Syracuse, N.Y. – The Robert Morris University women's hockey team did not get off to the start it wanted in its final road trip of the regular season, as the Colonials dropped their third straight in a 6-1 loss to Syracuse Friday evening in Tennity Ice Pavilion.
 
Despite the loss, the Colonials (14-12-5, 6-7-4) can still clinch home ice advantage in the first round of the College Hockey America Tournament. Meanwhile, the Orange (15-13-3, 11-4-2) secured a first-round bye in the CHA playoffs with their victory tonight.
 
Redshirt sophomore Brittany Howard put the Colonials on the board in the first period on assists from junior Rikki Meilleur and sophomore Amanda Pantaleo. Howard's goal extended her team lead in goals and points on the year to 13 and 33, respectively. She now boasts 75 career points in 65 games played (1.15 PPG).
 
The Orange came out of the first intermission trailing the Colonials by one, but with their postseason fate at stake, Syracuse used a strong forecheck to surge to a 6-1 lead in the span of 15:51 in the second period.
 
Syracuse redshirt senior Nicole Ferrara put the Orange on the board just 1:35 into the second, and sophomore Emily Costales followed suit less than a minute later to propel the home team to a quick 2-1 advantage.
 
Syracuse increased its lead to three goals under the halfway point of the period, which forced Robert Morris to call timeout and send sophomore goaltender Elijah Milne-Price onto the ice in relief of junior Jessica Dodds. Milne-Price would allow two goals during the remainder of the period, including a power-play tally from freshman Allie Munroe. In just her third career appearance, Milne-Price did not allow any goals in the third and made a career-high 12 saves on the night.
 
The Orange's six goals in the second frame set a program record for goals scored in a period. Syracuse went 1-for-2 on the power play, while RMU went 0-for-4. The Orange narrowly outshot the Colonials overall, 32-28, but took 19 shots compared to RMU's six in their explosive second period.
 
Neither team managed to set up a quality scoring chance early on, but Howard got a flurry in front of the net to go for the Colonials and earned her team a 1-0 lead with just over one minute remaining in the opening frame.
 
Robert Morris wraps up its regular-season road slate Saturday, Feb. 13 at 3 p.m. against Syracuse in Tennity Ice Pavilion.
 
 
Moving On Up
With a goal in today's game, redshirt sophomore Brittany Howard increased her career point total to 75. She is now shares fifth place with Kristen Miles (2005-08) and  Kelsey Thomas (2009-12) in all-time career points at Robert Morris.
 
 
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