Madison, Wis. – A historic season came to a close for the 2017 CHA Champion and CHA regular-season champion, No. 8 Robert Morris University women's hockey team, as the eighth-seeded Colonials fell to the top-seeded, No. 1-ranked Wisconsin Badgers, 7-0, Saturday afternoon in LaBahn Arena.
 
Robert Morris (24-5-6, 15-3-2 CHA) closes the season tied with the 2013-14 Colonials (24-8-3) for the most wins in a season in program history. The 2016-17 squad is the first ever to advance to the NCAA Tournament, and claim both the CHA Regular-Season and CHA Championship titles.
 
"This is the kind of team this year where the first step was pretty tough for us," said head coach Paul Colontino after the game. "Obviously getting the No. 1 seed in Wisconsin, the atmosphere Wisconsin has created over the years with their success, it's a tough barn to play in. But we took the first step. And with that I think we've got a group now that's ready to run. We got that out of the way, we couldn't be prouder of this group, it's a tough loss, but our season doesn't hinge on one game. Do we want to win it? Absolutely. We want to go to the Frozen Four. We want to win a national championship. Things do take time and we're not going to forget what this team did through eight months this season. They raised the bar in all aspects for RMU."
 
Wisconsin (32-2-4) earned its 21^st consecutive win to extend their NCAA-leading unbeaten stretch, and advance to the 2017 Women's Frozen Four, set for March 17-19, at Family Arena in St. Charles, Mo.
 
Redshirt junior forward Brittany Howard and senior captain Rikki Meilleur registered five shots apiece. Senior goalie Jessica Dodds and sophomore netminder Lauren Bailey combined for 42 saves.
 
Despite a slow start, the Colonials only improved as the game went on, and registered 12 shots in the third period. RMU prevented the Badgers from scoring on an early power play in the final frame, but Wisconsin junior Emily Clark notched her second straight goal of the game to boost the Badgers' lead, 7-0. Robert Morris earned one last advantage with 2:59 remaining in the game, but could not cash in.
 
Robert Morris opened the second period with another successful penalty kill after junior Natalie Fraser was called on a boarding penalty. The Colonials nearly cashed in on a loose puck in front of Wisconsin's senior goaltender Ann-Renee Desbiens after the Badgers power play came up short, but Wisconsin increased their lead to three on the next possession. Sophomore Sophia Shaver drew Dodds to the left post, and Shaver's initial shot bounced onto the stick of junior Baylee Wellhausen, who cashed in on a wide open right corner to put the Badgers up, 3-0.
 
Just over a minute later, Wisconsin junior Maddie Rolfes converted on a three-on-two to make it a 4-0 game at 8:34. Colontino called timeout following Rolfes' goal, and Bailey entered the game for Robert Morris after the break. Shortly after the goaltending change, Wisconsin earned its third power-play chance of the game. After falling short on its first two advantages, WU converted on number three. Senior Sarah Nurse dished a centering pass to junior Annie Pankowski, who finished the play and put the Badgers up, 5-0, at 13:27. Clark closed the frame with an unassisted tally to increase the Wisconsin edge to six goals.
 
Wisconsin freshman defenseman Mekenzie Steffen put the Badgers on the board one minute and forty-eight seconds into the first period. Her initial shot didn't go, but Steffen remained persistent with the puck and stuffed her second effort over Dodds' right pad to make it a 1-0 affair. Robert Morris earned the first power play chance of the game at 8:08, but it was short lived, as sophomore defenseman Kirsten Welsh was called for a checking penalty at 8:58. The Colonials killed off the Badgers advantage following the four-on-four that resulted from the Welsh penalty, but at 13:43, Pankowski made a drop pass to Nurse on a two-on-one breakaway, and Nurse scored to increase the Badgers lead, 2-0.
 
Robert Morris earned another power-play chance with 2:32 remaining in the opening frame, but had trouble keeping the puck in their offensive zone under the pressure of the Badgers' top-ranked penalty kill.
 
RMU held the No. 4 power play unit in the nation to one goal on four power-play chances.
 
 
Senior Salute
Robert Morris seniors Jessica Dodds, assistant captain Maeve Garvey, Mackenzie Johnston, Mikaela Lowater, and captain Rikki Meilleur skated in their last game for the Colonials today at LaBahn Arena. Dodds holds the individual career records in wins (61) and shutouts (14). Garvey ranks tenth all-time in career points (61) and tied for tenth with Johnston in goals (27). Lowater ranks tied for seventh in career assists (41).
 
Record Setter
Senior defenseman Mikaela Lowater set a new Robert Morris record in career games played (141), topping previous record holder, assistant coach Chelsea Walkand.
 
CHA Standouts
Freshman forward Jaycee Gebhard was named CHA Rookie of the Year. She leads the league in goals (22), goals per game (0.65), power-play goals (nine), power-play points (19), plus-rating (+38), and plus-minus (+20). Gebhard paces the nation in power-play goals and points per game among rookies (1.35). Redshirt junior forward Brittany Howard was named CHA Player of the Year. She leads the CHA in points (50), assists (30), power-play points (19), points per game (1.47), and plus-rating (+38).
 
Milestone Watch
Redshirt junior forward Brittany Howard improved to second place on the all-time individual career points (132) list. She is three points away from being crowned the new all-time points leader in RMU history. Last weekend, freshman forward Jaycee Gebhard set a new RMU record for single-season points by a rookie (46). She is tied with Rebecca Vint for most goals scored by a rookie in her debut campaign (22). She is two power-play tallies shy of the single-season record (11), set by Vint as a freshman in 2011-12.
 
CHA Sweep
Robert Morris raked in multiple awards at the CHA Championship Awards Banquet: Head coach Paul Colontino – CHA Coach of the Year; Brittany Howard – CHA Player of the Year (first in RMU history), CHA Scoring Trophy (first in RMU history), All-CHA First Team; Jaycee Gebhard – CHA Rookie of the Year (fourth in program history), All-CHA Second Team, All-CHA Rookie Team; Jessica Dodds – All-CHA First Team; Kirsten Welsh – All-CHA First Team
 
Trending
Redshirt junior Brittany Howard has posted a point in 28 of 34 games on the season. Entering today's game, freshman forward Jaycee Gebhard had points in her last nine outings, which marked a career high.
 
Making Their Mark
The 2017 squad is tied for first all time in overall wins (24) in a season in RMU lore. They are the winningest team in CHA contests in program history (15-3-2).
 
 
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