ERIE, Pa. - For the first time since 2017, the Robert Morris Colonials are champions of College Hockey America.
RMU captured its third postseason crown Saturday night at Erie Insurance Arena, knocking off Syracuse in a thrilling 1-0 game to send the Colonials to the 2021 NCAA Tournament.
Gilllian Thompson scored the game's only goal in the first period while Raygan Kirk backstopped RMU with a 36-save shutout as the Colonials captured the programs' third playoff crown in their fifth consecutive championship game appearance.
Thompson's opening tally at 7:27 of the first kicked off what was a thoroughly dominant opening frame for RMU.
After being pressured early by the Orange, the Colonials slowly began to work the puck into the Syracuse zone, turning the momentum with a number of hardworking shifts.
After some great forechecking from Joelle Fiala to prevent SYR from exiting their zone, a turnover and shot off the end boards took a wild bounce to Thomspon in the crease who played the bouncing puck perfectly off the carom, batting it into a wide-open net to set RMU off and running.
Like a shot of adrenaline, the Colonials spent nearly the entire remainder of the period in the offensive zone, out-skating and out-working the Orange along the boards to extend possessions and keep the pressure up.
They skated to the dressing rooms up 16-9 in SOG as well a 1-0 after Thompson's goal.
Syracuse responded with a solid push in the middle frame, forcing the Colonials to rely on their defensive structure and positioning to prevent the tying goal.
RMU was clinical in its defending, cutting off shooting lanes and keeping almost everything to the perimeter in the defensive zone as the Orange struggled to earn a clean look on Raygan Kirk.
Nevertheless, the sophomore goalie still managed to come up with a huge stop on Mae Batherson on the power-play, sliding post-to-post to get a piece of Batherson's re-direct attempt from the side of the net.
That defensive structure proved to be the difference for the Colonials, who outlasted the Orange in the third, blocking a number of huge shots and selling out to stop Syracuse from tying things up.
After three straight years of heartbreak in the final, RMU's 2021 senior class can finally call themselves champions as the group of Lexi Templeman, Emily Curlett, Emilie Harley, Anjelica Diffendal and Molly Singewald earned their sixth playoff win as a class and first ever CHA Title.
QUICK HITS
Third CHA Playoff Championship for RMU and first since 2017…Thompson scored the only goal…Maggy Burbidge was named tournament MVP…RMU blocked 20 shots…All three RMU goaltenders won a postseason game…Second win against Syracuse in the final..Raygan Kirk joins Jessica Dodds as only RMU goalies to clinch a championship with a shutout.
SCORING PLAYS
Thompson, 7:27, 1st - Assists: Burbidge, Fiala
QUOTABLES
"It's been a difficult year for not only us but all student-athletes to navigate, so to see our girls get rewarded for all their hard work after what they've battled through is exceptional. We're really proud of them. The way our locker room is and the culture we have, we're just so proud of the players because to get there once is hard enough, but to be able to keep getting there and keep getting the opportunity is incredible, our locker room is just awesome." - Head Coach Paul Colontino
"We just came into this game wanting to do it for our seniors out there. Obviously last year was a tough loss, but we worked hard all year and just did not want to lose and I think that was the difference for us tonight." - Maggy Burbidge
"The way our team kind of took it, we wanted to play every game like it was our last. To have the opportunity to make it all the way to not only CHA weekend but to the final game is honesty un-describable. We didn't think we would have a season earlier this year, so even just to be given that opportunity, our whole team is incredibly grateful." - Gillian Thompson
NEXT UP
The Colonials will find out who they face in the 2021 NCAA Tournament tomorrow, Sunday, March 7 in the NCAA Selection Show live on NCAA.com. A special team-only viewing party will be held in the Hat Trick Club of Clearview Arena, however fans can follow along online as well as check out the Interactive Bracket on NCAA.com.
