STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - The Robert Morris University women's hockey team fell on the road to Penn State Friday night at the Pegula Ice Center, 2-1 .Gillian Thompson scored the lone goal for RMU, her first of the season.
The Colonials and Nittany Lions exchanged zone time to start the game Friday night, each applying pressure off the opening drop in a high-stakes game with possible CHA supremacy on the line.
Josie Bothun did well to keep RMU off the scoreboard with an early goal, denying chances from Leah Marino and Emily Curlett in quick succession before Michaela Boyle just missed with her effort wide.
Raygan Kirk matched Bothun at the other end for RMU, surviving a pipe-hit from Natalie Heising before a nice stop on Mikayla Lantto to keep it scoreless early on.
The Colonials earned the lone power-play chance of the opening frame but couldn't convert despite a number of good looks from Curlett and Emilie Harley.
Gillian Thompson finally broke the ice early in the second, giving RMU a 1-0 lead with her first of the year after her slap shot from the point found its way through a traffic jam in front of the net and through Bothun.
The momentum was short-lived, unfortunately, as Penn State managed to tie things up just under eight minutes later when Olivia Wallin's wrister beat Kirk glove side before glancing off the post and in to make it a 1-1 game.
Another power-play chance filled with good looks followed, however the Colonials again failed to convert.
A late push from PSU forced Kirk to be sharp with quick stops on Rene Gangarosa and Alyssa Machado as RMU skated to the dressing rooms knotted at 1-1 with the Nittany Lions.
Robert Morris had a glorious chance to re-take the lead early in the third, however Bothun denied Anjelica Diffendal's initial breakaway attempt as well as a dangerous looking follow up try from a trailing Lexi Templeman.
Kiara Zannon put Penn State on top at 8:51, beating Kirk from the doorstep after following up a rebound on a shot that struck the post.
A late push with Kirk pulled fell short as RMU suffered its third straight loss to the Nittany Lions.
SCORING PLAYS
Thompson, 3:58, 2nd - Assists: Diffendal, Hanzlik
Wallin, 10:41, 2nd - Assists: Lobdell
Zanon, 6:45, 2nd - Assists: Heising, Heminger
QUICK HITS
Gillian Thompson scored her first goal of the season…Raygan Kirk made 28 saves in goal…RMU finished 0-2 on the power play
QUOTABLES
"It was an exciting hockey game with great pace. I thought we battled hard and had our opportunities." - head coach Paul Colontino
NEXT UP
RMU closes out the series against Penn State tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. at Pegula Ice Arena.
