PITTSBURGH, Pa. - The Robert Morris University women's hockey team improved to 2-0 on the year Friday afternoon, taking down Lindenwood 4-0 at Clearview Arena.
Capitan Lexi Templeman scored her first of the season while junior netminder Arielle DeSmet earned her third career shutout between the pipes, turning aside 21 shots in the victory.
After a 2-0 opening frame Thursday night, the Colonials struck first again Friday afternoon as captain Lexi Templeman cut into the slot before firing a low shot at LU keeper Julia Maguire that snuck through traffic and under her left pad.
DeSmet was sharp between the pipes early on as well in her first start of the season, turning aside 10 shots in the first period, including five on a Lindenwood power play after Curlett was whistled for a hook.
The junior net-minder faced another flurry of saves in the dying minutes of the period, stopping good looks from Hannah Alt and Jane Jacobs to preserve the one-goal lead for RMU.
Two goals in six seconds to start the middle frame gave the Colonials a commanding 3-0 lead.
Kyleigh Hanzlik potted her first of the year after taking a slick feed from Marah Wagner at the top of the crease for a tap-in.
Anjelica Diffendal got on the score sheet just six seconds later, taking the puck off the ensuing face-off and walking right down the slot before wiring a wrister over Maguire's blocker.
The Lions were gifted a prime chance at the end of the second when a penalty shot was issued following an interference minor on Curlett, however DeSmet answered the bell again, getting enough of a piece of the chance to deflect it just high, off the crossbar and out.
Michaela Boyle's first of the year on the power play with just over three minutes left in the game put a bow on an opening weekend sweep for RMU.
SCORING PLAYS
Templeman, 12:20, 1st - Unassisted
Hanzlik, 1:04, 2nd - Assists: Wagner, Fiala
Diffendal, 1:11, 2nd - Unassisted
Boyle, 16:46, 3rd (PP) - Assists: Marcovsky, Harley
QUICK HITS
Lexi Templeman scored career point #98 on her goal…Arielle DeSmet earned her third career shutout between the pipes…Ellie Marcovsky extended her point streak to two games to start her career…Hanzlik and Diffendal also scored their first of the year…Colonials now 3-12 (25%) on the power play this year
QUOTABLES
"Going into the weekend, one of the underlying goals is to get better every period. In game one, there's a lot of things going on, and our players found a way to improve every period and we found a way to win. I think the players just picked up right where they left off Thursday, and that was huge." - Head Coach Paul Colontino
"We had a number of players step up at different times for us today. We had great goaltending, and that was huge. It's nice because it just goes to show the amount of depth we have in different areas." - Coach Colontino
UP NEXT
RMU faces Lindenwood in a rematch of opening weekend in St. Charles, Mo. next Thursday night and Friday afternoon.
