MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – RMU will continue CHA action, welcoming Mercyhurst to Clearview Arena this weekend. The first game of the series is scheduled for Friday, January 19 at 3:00 p.m. The series finale will be played the following day at 3:00 p.m. Friday's game will stream on FloHockey and Saturday's will be televised on SportsNet Pittsburgh.
RMU LATELY
RMU (8-14-0 / 5-5-0 #CHA) returns to Clearview Arena after splitting a series against Lindenwood this past week. The Colonials won the first game 4-2, followed by a 5-3 loss. Across the two games, freshman forward
Alaina Giampietro tallied three goals, including a two-goal performance in the series finale. Her line mate
Janelle Evans also produced three points, dishing out three assists. From Bethune, Saskatchewan, Evans's 11 assists rank first on RMU's squad. Providing distribution, defensemen Chloé Puddifant and
Kaitlyn Schooley each handed out two assists against Lindenwood. Across the two-game set, Puddifant led all RMU players in blocks with six. Defensively, captains
Allyson Hebert (41) and
Wasyn Rice (39) rank fourth and fifth in the CHA in blocked shots. Sophomore netminder
Maggie Hatch started in both games recording 45 and 47 saves.
ANOTHA ONE
For the third time this season and in her career, freshman forward
Alaina Giampietro was named CHA Rookie of the Week. It's her fifth total honor this season, as she's earned three weekly awards, named CHA Rookie of the Month, and at the national level, was tabbed HCA Rookie of the Month in October. From Strongsville, Ohio, she led all skaters in the conference this past weekend in goals, scoring three against Lindenwood, including one goal on the power-play. With two goals in the second game of the series, she's now registered four multipoint efforts in her career. Currently, she leads all Colonials in goals and points (10-7—17). Across the CHA conference, she ranks fourth in goals and is tied eighth in points.
HATCH NAMED TO HCA WATCH LIST
This past week, sophomore goaltender
Maggie Hatch was tabbed to the Hockey Commissioner's Association's Goaltender of the Year Watch List. Appearing in 16 games this season, Hatch owns a 3.05 G.A.A. and .923 save percentage. She ranks third in the CHA conference in saver percentage and in the top 20 across all Division I netminders. From Cleveland Heights, Ohio, Hatch earned her first career win in RMU's home opener, beating St. Anselm, 6-1 (10/7). Earlier in the season, she was tabbed Goaltender of the Month by the CHA conference as she finished with 30 or more saves in all four games and helped the Colonials win their first conference game of the year, stopping 41 shots at Mercyhurst. The sophomore has posted 30 or more saves in 11 total games during the 2023-24 campaign, including a career-high 50 saves against Mankato (11/25).
PUDDIFANT POINT STREAK
Over the last four games, graduate defenseman Chloé Puddifant has dished out an assist in each contest. Producing a point in four-straight games, ties her career-high. Last season with St. Lawrence University, Puddifant recorded four assists in four straight games. On the year, she's paced for one goal and 11 assists with RMU. Her 11 assists are second on the team and are tied sixth-best in the CHA.
RMU LEADERS
Goals:
Alaina Giampietro (10)
Assists:
Janelle Evans (12)
Points:
Alaina Giampietro (17)
PPG:
Shailynn Snow (3)
SHG:
Morgan Giannone,
Jersey Phillips (1)
GWG:
Morgan Giannone,
Jersey Phillips,
Madison Primeau (2)
Blocks:
Allyson Hebert (41)
SV%:
Maggie Hatch (.923)
ALL-TIME VS. MERCYHURST
Against the Lakers, the Colonials are 20-51-5 all-time. In the last four outings dating back to 2021, RMU has won three of the four, all by the score of 3-2. Earlier in the season, the Lakers hosted the Colonials, winning the first game, 9-2, then RMU responded well, winning the second day, 3-2. Throughout the two-game set,
Alaina Giampietro scored two goals and two assists.
Madison Primeau scored two goals, including the game-winner in game two. On defense, Chloé Puddifant dished out two helpers.
SCOUTING MERCYHURST
Mercyhurst (11-12-1 / 7-3-0 #CHA) is coming off a series sweep as they took down Syracuse, 2-1 and 6-2. Prior to that series, they hosted #13 Yale in Erie, Pa. The Lakers fell the first game 2-0 but flipped the score the following game and won 2-0. Through 24 games, Mercyhurst is currently sitting second in the conference standings.
MERCYHURST LEADERS
Goals: Sara Boucher (12)
Assists: Sara Boucher (15)
Points: Sara Boucher (27)
PPG: Sofia Nuutinen, Vanessa Upson (3)
SHG: Vanessa Upson (1)
GWG: Kylee Mahoney (3)
Blocks: Sydney Pedersen (46)
SV%: Ena Nystrøm
RMU AND MERCYHURST COMMON OPPONENTS
Besides conference members of the CHA, both programs have played Colgate and Princeton in their non-conference schedule. Both teams are currently ranked.
UP NEXT
After hosting Mercyhurst, the Colonials will head back out on the road for a two-game series on January 26-27 at Syracuse.
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