Syracuse, N.Y. – A season-long skid for the Robert Morris University women's hockey team extended to four games after the Colonials dropped a series finale to Syracuse, 3-2, in their last road game of the regular season Saturday afternoon in Tennity Ice Pavilion.
 
The Colonials (14-13-5, 6-8-4) have yet to secure home ice in the first round of the College Hockey America Tournament, as they earned no points against the Orange (16-13-3, 12-4-2) and Lindenwood collected two points today with a 1-0 win at Penn State.
 
In her second consecutive outing, redshirt sophomore Brittany Howard scored the first goal of the game and put the Colonials ahead early. Junior Maeve Garvey assisted on the shorthanded tally. Freshman Kirsten Welsh recorded the second Robert Morris goal of the game on an assist from junior goaltender Jessica Dodds, her second helper of the season.
 
Trailing 3-1, the Colonials made it a one-goal game on a shot from Welsh that bounced off Syracuse senior goaltender Jenn Gilligan's foot and into the net with 11:16 to go in the third period. The RMU defense managed to kill off a late third period penalty and prevented Syracuse from increasing its lead, but the Orange defense remained steadfast as well and blocked or saved nine of 10 Robert Morris shots in the final minutes of action.
 
Both teams went scoreless in the first period. For the second straight game, RMU struck first as Howard scored during a Syracuse power play to give the Colonials a 1-0 start, but the Orange put together another strong mid-game performance and scored three consecutive goals to take control.
 
The Orange kicked off their scoring streak with a power-play game-tying goal at 9:10 in the second period. The game remained knotted at one goal apiece heading into the third, but the Orange broke the tie just under two minutes into the final frame on a junior forward Morgan Blank goal right in front with no Colonials defenders there to contest the shot.
 
Syracuse went up 3-1 on a backhand shot from sophomore Emily Costales that slid behind Dodds with 14 minutes to play in the third period.
 
Robert Morris returns home for its regular-season finale against RIT on Friday, Feb. 19 at 7:05 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 20 at 3:05 p.m. Seniors Leah Carlson, Anissa Gamble and Ashley Vesci will be honored on Saturday at 84 Lumber Arena.
 
 
Moving On Up
With a goal in today's game, redshirt sophomore Brittany Howard increased her career point total to 76. She surpassed fifth-place Kristen Miles (2005-08) and  Kelsey Thomas (2009-12) and now ranks fourth all-time in career points at Robert Morris.
 
100 Club
Juniors Mackenzie Johnston, Mikaela Lowater and Rikki Meilleur all competed in their 100^th career game today.
 
 
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