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SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Robert Morris (16-8-2, 5-2-1) scored twice in the final minute of the first period and again in the opening minute of the second period to skate to a 5-2 win against the Syracuse ice hockey team (9-18-3, 0-5-3) on Saturday afternoon at Tennity Ice Pavilion.
Holly Carrie-Mattimoe and
Nicole Ferrara scored for the Orange, while
Kallie Billadeau made 27 saves in goal. Prior to the game, SU honored its four seniors:
Stephanie Jones,
Taylor Metcalfe,
Lisa Mullan and
Megan Skelly for their dedication to the Orange during their four-year careers.
The Colonials held a 32-27 shot advantage for the game, while SU recovered from a tough first period start to win the battle in the faceoff circle, 33-31. RMU was 2-of-5 on the power play and SU was 1-of-6.
Carrie-Mattimoe picked up her team-leading 12th goal of the season late in the first period to give Syracuse a 1-0 lead on a beautiful goal from in tight. After collecting a loose puck in the offensive zone, Carrie-Mattimoe settled the puck before roofing it under the cross bar for the score.
With RMU on the power play with less than a minute left in the opening frame, Rebecca Vint scored her 18th goal of the year when Brianna Delaney fired a hard pass from the blue line down to Vint, who redirected it into the back of the net. The Colonials would then take a 2-1 lead just 28 seconds later as Dayna Newsom’s shot from below the hashmarks squeaked through the pads of Billadeau.
Robert Morris would take a two-goal edge 51 seconds into the second period as Thea Imbrogno took a feed from Kelsey Thomas, deeked with her backhand before bringing it back to her forehand and potting her 11th goal of the season.
The score would stay that way until the seven minute mark of the third period as Ferrara netted her fifth of the season with Syracuse on a five-on-three power play.
Caitlin Roach began the play after her initial shot was blocked from the point and then sending it back on goal. That’s where Ferrara took the puck, brought it to the right side of the cage and buried it to make it 3-2.
Any momentum the Orange had built following the goal shifted back to RMU ten minutes later as Maddie Collias capitalized on a tough bounce for her fourth goal of the year. Paige Pietrangel chipped the puck from the defensive zone off the glass and into the neutral zone. The puck caught an edge and bounced right onto the stick of Collias, who went in alone on Billadeau before blasting a slap shot off the left post and in. Brandi Pollock would make it 5-2 with 1:17 left in regulation on her first goal of the season.
SU will return to the ice next weekend at Mercyhurst, beginning Friday afternoon at 3:00 p.m.