MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – Janelle Evans's OT winner sends the Colonials to the CHA playoffs as RMU takes down #14 Penn State, 4-3 in overtime. RMU is now 12-17-1 overall and 9-8-1 in conference games. Penn State is now 18-12-2 overall and 13-4-1 in CHA action.
1st PERIOD
- Penn State scored the first goal of the game with under three minutes left.
- The visitors led in shots on goal through the first 20 minutes, 20-7.
2nd PERIOD
- PSU added to their lead again, scoring on their second power play opportunity of the night, making it 2-0.
- Moments later, RMU received a power play chance and
Alaina Giampietro wristed one in to bring the Colonials within one.
- After a few minutes, Penn State responded with another power play goal to take back a two-goal advantage.
- Before the period ended, the Colonials clawed back to tie up the game.
-
Madison Primeau down the right side took a shot on goal. Looking like PSU's netminder saved it but she failed to corral the puck, laying in the blue crease. Primeau followed through and poked in the puck to start the rally.
- RMU went back on the power play after scoring. The Colonials didn't produce on the 5v4 opportunity but scored seconds later once it was back to even-strength.
-
Gillian Thompson dished a pass across the ice to
Janelle Evans. She took a touch and roofed the puck into the top corner to tie up the score, 3-3.
3rd PERIOD
- No goals were scored in the third period.
Emma Gorski in net for the Colonials was lights out as she made 26 saves to stove off the Nittany Lions resurgence.
3on3 OVERTIME
- Heading back to overtime for the second consecutive day, it would be this time that RMU finishes off PSU.
- Captain
Allyson Hebert caused a turnover in the defensive zone and passed the puck up the ice to
Janelle Evans with a little over a minute left. All alone, Evans went five-hole and netted the game-winning goal that would send RMU back to the playoffs, winning 4-3.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Freshman
Alaina Giampietro led the squad in shots on goal with seven. In the +/- category,
Wasyn Rice,
Gillian Thompson and
Shailynn Snow all finished with a team-high +2. Defensively,
Allyson Hebert blocked seven shots on the night. Her seven blocks tie teammate
Thalia D'Elia for the most blocks in one game by a CHA player this season. D'Elia achieved this recently at RIT (2/4/24).
GORSKI MAKES HISTORY
Tonight, goaltender
Emma Gorski officially now owns the single-game save record in program history with 65 saves against Penn State. That number ties Allie Kelley of Syracuse for the CHA season-high and ties former RIT netminder Taylor Liotta, for sixth place on the CHA single-game saves list. Former RMU goalie Brianne McLaughlin originally owned the record, registering 63 saves at #3 Minnesota on October 3 of 2008. "It was amazing having my family here," said Gorski. "I love every chance I get to step in the crease. It was an electric feeling to win this game on senior day."
JANELLE HAS THE CLUTCH GENE
During the 2023-24 campaign, freshman
Janelle Evans has scored some of the most important goals in program history. She scored the first goal of the season at Union (9/29/23), the Teddy Bear Toss goal against Lindenwood (1/20/24) and now the game-winning goal in overtime over Penn State that sends the Colonials to the playoffs. Tonight, Evans produced two goals and one assist. In her last 10 games, she's paced for four goals and seven assists, averaging over a point-per-game. From Bethune, Saskatchewan, the freshman owns eight goals and 16 assists, totaling 24 points.
COLONIALS CLINCH
In the program's first season back on the ice, the Colonials officially clinched a spot in the CHA Playoff Tournament after beating Penn State, 4-3 in overtime. Through program history, RMU have won three CHA Regular Season Championships (2017, 2018, 2019), three CHA Playoff Championships (2012, 2017, 2021) and have appeared in the NCAA Playoff Tournament twice (2017, 2021).
QUOTABLE
"This was one of the most exciting weekends in RMU Hockey history. Our girls took on the challenge and rose to the occasion. Many people didn't think we'd be in the playoffs but we took down one of the best teams in the country. Now, we have some more work to do."
– Head Coach Logan Bittle
UP NEXT
RMU will travel down to Lindenwood for one last regular season series. The two-game set is scheduled for February 16-17. The CHA playoff bracket is yet to be determined after next week's results.
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