PITTSBURGH -- Robert Morris women's hockey forward Brittany Howard picked up where she left off off the ice Friday night, joining her teammates as they were presented with their 2016-17 College Hockey America championship rings. On Saturday, she picked up where she left off on the ice.

Howard scored twice for the Colonials in a 4-1 defeat of Ontario University Athletics representative Ryerson in Colonials Arena at the RMU Island Sports Center. When No. 10 (USCHO/USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine) Robert Morris begins its CHA title defense in two weeks, the redshirt senior and reigning conference MVP and scoring champ will need just three more points to become the top point-getter in RMU women's history. In their lone exhibition game of 2017-18, she appeared to be in mid-season form.

Ryerson showed early in the contest it was willing to give up the body, and the shot-blocking efforts by the Rams helped besieged starting goaltender Rachel Seeley, who made 18 saves and held Robert Morris to a 1-0 lead before Howard and Lexi Templeman greeted losing netminder Sydney Authier less than two minutes apart.

Templeman trailed a shot by defenseman Kirsten Welsh and easily buried the generous rebound for a 2-0 Colonials advantage 12:05 into the second period. Howard, from the right circle, picked a corner to make it 3-0 RMU at 13:58.

This followed a big save on the other end by Lauren Bailey, who only had to make five on the night but came up with a big one midway through the second to deny Leanne Baker on a one-timer. Robert Morris outshot the Rams 38-10 without conceding any shots in the final period.

Alyssa Connolly did pull one back for Ryerson on a power play with 1:41 left in the second, but Howard responded 5:40 into the third by firing home another one from the right side on a 2-on-1 set up by North Dakota transfer Sarah Lecavalier.

It was also a big night for Caitlyn Sadowy, who returned to RMU's lineup one year removed from an injury that wiped out her entire '16-'17 campaign. She opened the scoring by connecting on a loose puck in a scrum right in front of the Ryerson goal with 7:15 left in the first.

Jessica Gazzola set her up and later notched the primary assist on Howard's first goal as well. National/conference rookie of the year Jaycee Gebhard unofficially opened her sophomore season with the second helper on that Howard tally.

The Colonials have next weekend off before heading to Minnesota for a season-opening series at Mankato Sat., Oct. 7 at 2:00 p.m. EDT and Sun., Oct. 8 at noon.

Robert Morris will return to Colonials Arena Fri., Nov. 10 for a 7:05 p.m. puck drop against College Hockey America rival RIT.

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