PITTSBURGH -- On an opening night that included a couple of memorable firsts for the Robert Morris University women's hockey team, a pair of reliable upperclassmen carried the offensive load in spectacular fashion.

Senior captain Jaycee Gebhard netted her second career hat trick and added two assists, while junior alternate captain Lexi Templeman recorded a goal and four helpers as the Colonials (1-0-0) pulled away from Union, 6-1, on Friday night at the RMU Island Sports Center. 

The dueling five-point games for Gebhard and Templeman tied for the third-most in a single game by a Colonial. Gebhard, who ranks second on RMU's all-time scoring list, had a six-point game at Minnesota State-Mankato two years ago, but this was the first time Templeman had scored more than three in a single outing.

At any rate, this was just the second time in team history that two Colonials had posted at least five points in the same game. The two offensive spark plugs have been placed on the same line to start the season, with Templeman assisting on all three of Gebhard's tallies.

"We had offensive chances all game," said Templeman, an Ontario native. "It's so much fun. We work well together. We're both very competitive players, but I think the intensity that we bring ... definitely helps us a lot."

RMU's two power-play goals on the night exemplified the growing connection between the team's top two scorers from last season.

The first of those, Gebhard's first of the night at 15:11 of the first period, gave the Colonials a 2-0 lead going into intermission. Taking a feed down the left-wing wall by pinching defender Gillian Thompson, Templeman pivoted and snapped a perfect pass into the slot, where Gebhard ripped home a one-timer.

The second RMU PPG was less critical to the outcome, but just as dynamic. With RMU up 5-1 and just 1:38 left on the third-period clock, Gebhard won an offensive-zone faceoff at the left circle by tapping it through her opposing center's legs, then quickly hit Templeman in front for a forehand finish under Union goalie Amelie Murray.

"It's something we wanted to try," Templeman said. "We saw the opening and we took it."

The same could be said for RMU freshman goalie Raygan Kirk. The native of Manitoba got the call in the first game of her college career, and the 2019 World Under-18 Championship MVP delivered with 24 saves.

"Obviously I was nervous, but super-excited as well, to get the chance to play with these girls for 60 minutes," Kirk said. "I think after those first couple of shots, you're getting into it and feeling the flow of the game. Good to get it under the belt."

Kirk's classmate from the neighboring Canadian province of Saskatchewan also delivered a productive debut.

Just after Union scored a two-man advantage goal midway through the third to cut the margin to 3-1, first-year Colonials center Joelle Fiala feathered a delicate feed through a defender to junior Pittsburgher Anjelica Diffendal. Diffendal roofed the forehand from in tight, converting her eighth RMU tally and handing Fiala her first NCAA assist and point.

Three minutes later, Gebhard successfully followed her own rebound for the second time on the night, and the result was secured. Then again, considering the way the Colonials sprung from the locker room, with goals by sophomore Mackenzie Krasowski and Gebhard in the opening 20 minutes, there was a good feeling on the Island right from the start.

"There are things we need to work on, but that (start) definitely builds confidence," said Gebhard, who now has an even 140 points in 104 college games. "The locker room was loud before the first period. Everyone was ready to go. Two goals in the first was a good way to get the nerves out."

A better way to start? Getting two wins on the opening weekend of the program's 15th Division I season. Union (0-1-0) remains in town for a 3:05 p.m. Saturday rematch.

"We'll come out flying tomorrow," Kirk said. "That's our focus now."