POTSDAM, N.Y. -- Once again, the
Robert Morris women's hockey team showed resolve opposite the two-time NCAA Division I national champions, but it ran out of time to complete its climb out of a three-goal hole at No. 1 Clarkson, which prevailed 4-3 at Cheel Arena Saturday.
Leading 3-0 midway through the second period, the Golden Knights (4-0-0) gave up an infrequent two-on-one, and sophomore right wing
Anjelica Diffendal made them pay. The Robinson Township native netted her first goal of the young season, with help from fellow second-year forward
Lexi Templeman, to give the Colonials (1-3-0) a pulse.
Morgan Helgeson responded just over five minutes later with her first as a collegian, but Robert Morris wasn't ready to take the bus. Junior assistant captain
Jaycee Gebhard continued to flaunt her offensive leadership skills with her second goal in as many days, deflecting a puck past Kassidy Sauve 5:05 into the third period.
Gebhard, who attended training camp with Team Canada's National Women's Development Team in the off-season, would later pick up a primary helper for her second consecutive multi-point game with RMU on the power play. She set up senior tri-captain
Kirsten Welsh, who sniped her second goal of the campaign with 3:01 remaining.
The Colonials pulled senior goaltender
Lauren Bailey, who made 21 saves in defeat, and put the Knights on their heels in the waning moments. They won an own-zone faceoff after an icing call with 42 seconds left and made one last push, but Gebhard's final shot attempt was blocked before time expired.
Despite an evenly-played first period in which shots were even at eight per side, Clarkson forced RMU to play catch-up. Sauve was credited with an assist on a goal by T.T. Cianfarano six minutes into the game, then a long run of success by the Colonials penalty kill was interrupted when Elizabeth Giguere got her third of the season with 3:04 left.
Previously, Robert Morris had killed off a minor for interference on Templeman, giving RMU 11 successful kills in its first 12 attempts (91.7%) to begin the year.
After a successful PK by the Knights early in the second period, Kelly Mariani showcased the depth of their offense by giving the champs their biggest lead with 12:22 to go in the middle frame.
Meanwhile, senior tri-captain
Maggie LaGue got onto the scoresheet for the first time in '18-'19 with an assist, the 62nd of her career, on Welsh's goal. The blue-liner from Barre, Vermont entered her senior year as the all-time program leader in assists by a defender, and she took sole possession of fourth place overall from Rebecca Vint '15 with that third-period apple.
Welsh, concurrently, moved into a tie with original Colonial Kristen Miles '09 for fifth in RMU history with her 15th power-play tally all-time.
Additionally, in the school's all-time goals race, Gebhard broke her seventh-place tie with longtime teammate
Amber Rennie with the 37th of her career.
Robert Morris returns home to face RPI (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute), its third straight ECAC (Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference) opponent, as part of a women's/men's doubleheader at the RMU Island Sports Center Fri., Oct. 12. The first puck drop is scheduled for 3:05 p.m. EDT, and the men's team hosts Bowling Green in its 2018-19 regular season opener at 7:05.
The Colonials conclude their series against the Engineers with another 3:05 p.m. contest at Colonials Arena next Saturday, Oct. 13.
Fans can call 412-397-4949 or visit the Island Sports Center front desk on gameday for ticket information.
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