ERIE, Pa. - The Robert Morris University women's hockey team saw its season come to an end Monday afternoon at Erie Insurance Arena with a 5-1 loss to the Northeastern Huskies in the 2021 NCAA quarterfinals.
Emily Curlett scored the first NCAA Tournament goal in Colonials program history while Raygan Kirk made 41 saves in goal for RMU.
Kirk was on her game early for RMU, turning aside three quick chances from NU in the opening minute of action including a dangerous looking backhander from captain Alina Mueller in the slot.
Ellie Marcovsky earned the first good look for RMU around the five minute mark, letting go of a long shot from the point that appeared to handicap Aerin Frankel in goal but struck the crossbar and stayed out.
Kirk made another brilliant save on Katy Knoll after a great move from Knoll move to cut around a defender in the slot, however the Huskies finally got on the board at 12:04 of the first after a short-handed rush from Chloe Aurard ended with Aurard slipping one five-hole on Kirk for a 1-0 lead.
Frankel responded with a big stop on her end, stuffing Kylie Hanzlik in the crease with just over four to play in the first as RMU headed to the dressing rooms down 1-0.
Hanzlik and Joelle Fiala tried to make something happen off of some nice zone time early in the second, working it down low for a sharp-angle shot, however Frankel managed to get a pad on the chance.
Skylar Fontaine pushed it to a 2-0 Huskies lead at 8:18 of the middle frame, out-racing an RMU defender for a fast break before sliding a quick shot under Kirk's pads as RMU continued to search for their first goal.
Huge stops from Frankel on Michaela Boyle and Anjelica Diffendal punctuated a busy middle frame for the NU goalie.
Emily Curlett finally got RMU on the board with under a minute to go in the second, stepping into a one-timer from the left circle for the first NCAA Tournament goal in Colonials history to cut the lead to just one, however the Huskies scored a third with three-seconds left to restore the two-goal lead heading into the third.
The Huskies added two more goals in the final frame to seal the deal and hand RMU their final loss of the season.
SCORING PLAYS
Aurard, 7:57, 1st (SH) - Assists: Mueller
Fontaine, 8:18, 2nd - Assists: Aurard
Curlett, 19:03, 2nd (PP) - Assists: Harley, Templeman
Mueller, 19:56, 2nd - Assists: Fontaine, Murphy
Cipra, 7:11, 3rd - Unassisted
Fontaine, 14:09, 3rd - Assists: Knoll
QUICK HITS
Curlett's goal is the first in NCAA Tournament history for RMU…Curlett now sits one point off the all-time defender record of 92 held by Maggie LaGue
QUOTABLES
"When you look at the changes to society in general and the way its affected student-athletes, it's been a real mental test for them, but when you get here and see eight teams that found a way to persevere and win their league or have a great season to get here, it just says a lot about what we're doing in the locker room and how mentally tough they are." - Head Coach Paul Colontino
"We're a program that has grown a lot even since I started here two years ago, and I think we were even in a bit of a slump coming in second place the last few years. Playing against the top-ranked team is an honor and I think we held our own against a very good team, but we'll be here again next year and the hope is we'll keep advancing every year." - goaltender Raygan Kirk
