SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Despite outshooting Robert Morris, 30-25, an early powerplay tally kept momentum in the visitors' favor as Syracuse suffered a 3-1 setback against the Colonials on Friday night at the Tennity Ice Pavilion.
Freshman defenseman Kelly Dimmen (Colorado Springs, Colo.) notched her second goal of the season, marking her first even strength lamplighter of the season. Junior blueliner Gabrielle Beaudry (Cortland, N.Y.) recorded her first point of the season by way of the first assist on her linemate's marker. In addition, first-year forward Jessica Frump (Saugus, Calif.) accounted for her second assist of the year on the goal, third overall point.
Junior netminder Lucy Schoedel (Ithaca, N.Y.) thwarted 22Colonials' attempts, upping her season total to 447 saves. The third-year goaltender is averaging 3.97 goals allowed per contest, stopping 88.7 percent (447-505) of the blasts she has faced.
Robert Morris jumped on the board early after Frump was whistled for a hooking infraction 30 seconds into the contest. Samantha Ullrich made the initial pass to Mallory Giambra who had a wide-open shot from the top of the right circle. The puck made its way through heavy traffic in the crease underneath Schoedel's right pad for the early 1-0 advantage 1:16 into the game. Megan Picnic was awarded an assist on the play, as well.
In the second period, each team had numerous chances in front of the net, but strong goalkeeping play by Brianne McLaughlin and Schoedel kept the puck out of the cage for the middle stanza.
The Colonials doubled up on their lead, 2-0, on another powerplay tally. Freshman forward Megan Skelly (Taber, Alberta) was sent to the box for hooking at 3:05 of the third period, giving way to a goal by Chelsea Walkland at the 3:39 mark. Schoedel stopped Sara O'Malley's original shot on net, but the puck trickled right near the goal line and Walkland tipped it in after streaking down the left side. Maria Stoa received credit for the second assists.
Dimmen gave the Orange hope after Beaudry placed a hard slapshot on McLaughlin. Dimmen grabbed the carom in front of the left side of the net and dumped it in for Syracuse's lone goal of the match at with 3:02 remaining on the clock to cut into RMU's lead, 2-1.
Head coach Paul Flanagan pulled Schoedel in waning moments to create an extra-skater advantage, but Brianna Delaney was able to zero in on the open target to cinch the game, 3-1, with 1:10 to go.
Syracuse and Robert Morris return to Tennity Ice Pavilion for the second game of the series on Saturday, January 10 at 2 pm.