PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Senior Captain Jaycee Gebhard wrote her name into the record books Saturday afternoon at Colonials Arena, breaking the all-time RMU program record for career points with 182.
Her three-point afternoon helped propel the Colonials to a victory over Lindenwood University by a final score of 4-1.
Gebhard (2), Emily Curlett, and Courtney Kollman all recorded goals on the afternoon. Raygan Kirk stopped 19 of 20 shots on goal to earn the win.
"It's crazy to think about, but it's definitely an honor," Gebhard said postgame. "I played with Britt for two years on the same line, so a lot is owed to her and all the players I've played with over the years, but it's crazy to think about. I don't think it has really sunk in yet."
Gebhard's goal broke the previous record of 181 set by Brittany Howard '18, a former linemate of hers for two seasons.
"It's a hard thing to do," head coach Paul Colontino said. "You talk about deserving, we just couldn't be happier in all honesty, because she works extremely hard every single day. Her commitment, her dedication level is just so high that whether you're a player or coaching staff member, you can't help but be inspired."
Much like in game one on Friday night, the Colonials started out with a number of dynamic shifts in the offensive zone that generated some quality scoring chances but no goals.
Gebhard was buzzing early, facilitating from behind the net and nearly setting up Hanzlik for an early goal, however the sophomore winger put the shot the puck wide.
After going without a goal for 72:49 in the series, Lindenwood finally managed to crack Kirk as they struck first with a goal from Courtney Ganske from the high slot.
Despite the early disadvantage, RMU stuck to their system and continued to press, generating a number of quality looks at even strength before a high-sticking call put the RMU power-play on the ice.
The Colonials fourth-ranked power play quickly went to work, and soon found the equalizer after Curlett swiped in a loose puck at the side of the net. After a scoring review, it was determined that Gebhard picked up a secondary assist on the tally, bringing her even with the all-time scoring record of 181 points.
Minutes later, she broke the record in a much more decisive fashion, ripping a shot top-shelf over Asplundh on the power play to make it 2-1 and write her name into the record books as the all-time leading scorer in program history.
"It's with players like Jay and her peers that we win, and the leadership we have and their drive and willingness to commit to a process and a system and a culture that wants to take the next step," Colontino said.
The goals kept on coming for the Colonials in the second. A huge emotional boost from seeing their captain cement herself as an all-time great led to chance after chance for RMU.
Courtney Kollman finished off a breakaway with a slick backhand-forehand move before sliding it five-hole on Asplundh to make it 3-1 for Robert Morris four and a half minutes into the second.
Gebhard would put the exclamation point on her afternoon mid-way through the second, picking off a pass in the neutral zone and streaking in on Asplundh alone on a breakaway and roofing one high-glove for a short-handed goal, her third point of the night and career point No. 183.
"She kind of put it right on my stick, and I had pretty much like 150 feet to go," Gebhard said. "I saw the top corner the whole way down. It was nice to finish off the night like that."
The win moves Robert Morris to 15-9-2 on the season, including a 9-3-0 mark in College Hockey America Play. Meanwhile, Lindenwood drops to 4-16-3 overall and 2-10-0 in CHA play.
RMU will play its next four games on the road, heading up to State College for a pair against the Nittany Lions on February 7 and 8 before closing the swing out with a back-to-back at Mercyhurst on the 14th and 15th.
