MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – The RMU women's hockey team is set to host No. 6 Penn State in a conference series this weekend. The opening game is scheduled for Friday, October 31 at 3:00 PM, followed by the finale on Saturday, November 1 at 5:00 PM. Both contests will stream live on FloHockey with commentary from Gero von Dehn and Bob Kennedy.
 
RMU LATELY
RMU (5-5-0, 3-1-0 AHA) enters the weekend following a dominant sweep of Delaware, earning consecutive 5-0 shutout victories. Six Colonials posted multi-point weekends: Jessica MacKinnon (3g, 3a), Morgan Giannone (2g, 2a), Alaina Giampietro (2g, 2a), Taylor Storey (1g, 2a), Kaitlyn Schooley (3a) and Thalia D'Elia (1g, 1a). Both Giampietro and Storey netted their first power-play goals of the season.
 
On the back end, Shayne Desjardins and Linnea Misner each collected an assist and a team-high three blocks against the Blue Hens. In the faceoff circle, RMU was outstanding — MacKinnon won 29 draws at a 67.4% clip, Catriona Crarer went 24-for-32 (75.0%), and freshman Mary Snyder added 14 wins (73.7%).
 
Through 10 games, MacKinnon continues to lead the Colonials in goals (5), assists (8), points (13), game-winners (2) and plus-minus (+8). Giannone and Giampietro each sit right behind her with five goals apiece. Defensively, Desjardins paces RMU with 27 blocked shots, while in net, Maggie Hatch leads the team with three wins, a 2.34 GAA, and a .920 save percentage.
 
SHUTOUT STREAK
Last weekend marked just the seventh time in program history—and the first since 2020—that RMU recorded back-to-back shutouts. Lucy Phillips earned her first career shutout in the opener with 13 saves, followed by Maggie Hatch's 19-save blanking in the finale.
 
RMU's Longest Shutout Streaks:
181:08 – 2018
174:47 – 2020
173:06 – 2019
167:49 – 2006
153:01 – 2015
144:25 – 2013
120:05 – 2025
 
DOMINANCE IN THE DOT
Sophomore forward Jessica MacKinnon has been a standout in the faceoff circle this season. Her 143 faceoff wins and 67.8% success rate both lead the Atlantic Hockey America conference. She also ranks second in both assists and total points league-wide.
 
ALL-TIME VS. PENN STATE
RMU holds a 24-14-8 all-time advantage over the Nittany Lions. The Colonials won the first eight meetings between the programs, though Penn State has taken the last four. In last year's series, Emma Goding scored a power-play goal while Lindsey Smolen, Mya Kearns, and Ashlyn Ham each notched assists. Thalia D'Elia has registered three career assists versus PSU, while Morgan Giannone owns one goal and one assist in the matchup.
 
SCOUTING THE NITTANY LIONS
No. 6 Penn State (10-0-0, 6-0-0 AHA) enters the weekend undefeated through its first 10 contests, including six straight conference wins.
 
Senior forward Tessa Janecke and freshman defenseman Danica Maynard share the team lead with 14 points, with Maynard also topping PSU in assists (11) and plus-minus (+17). Sophomore forward Grace Outwater leads the Nittany Lions with nine goals. In goal, senior Katie DeSa has been stellar, posting a 1.00 GAA, .933 save percentage, and three shutouts across eight wins.
 
UP NEXT
RMU continues its homestand next weekend, hosting Mercyhurst on Friday, November 7 at 3:00 PM and Saturday, November 8 at 3:00 PM. Both games will stream live on FloHockey.
 
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