ROCHESTER, NY – Despite the first collegiate goals from Taylor Baker (Toronto, Ontario/North Toronto Collegiate Institute) and Claudia Black (Newmarket, Ontario/St. Maximilian Kobe), the RIT women’s hockey team (1-12-0, 0-3-0 College Hockey America) fell to College Hockey America leader Robert Morris (8-1-4, 4-0-1 College Hockey America), 4-3 at the Gene Polisseni Center on Friday night.
Baker would score in the opening period, while Black would tally in the second, and Clayton would score in the third for the Tigers, who tallied a season-high with the three goals. Jenna de Jonge (Abbotsford, British Columbia/George Elliot) stopped 23 shots in net for RIT.
Brittany Howard and Amber Rennie each tallied three points on a goal and two assists for the Colonials, who maintain their lead in the league standings. Howard also tallied her 100th career point. Maggie Lague and Aneta Ledlova also scored for Robert Morris, while Lauren Bailey made 16 saves in the win.
Robert Morris held a 27-19 edge in shots. The Colonials were 2-for-4 on the power-play, while RIT was 2-for-3.
“I thought we kept up with Robert Morris all game and started to show glimpses of what our offense can do,” said Bruce B. Bates Women’s Hockey Coach Scott McDonald. “We just need to play with more consistency.”
RIT would score first, but Robert Morris would strike back with two goals to hold a 2-1 lead after one period of play.
Baker would score her first collegiate goal 6:03 into the game on the power-play, as she took a feed from Kendall Cornine (Kinnelon, NJ/Morristown Beard) at the left point, took one step in and fired a shot that glanced off a Robert Morris defender, changing directions on Bailey, before going off the left post and in.
Robert Morris would answer just over two minutes later, as Howard and Lague played catch at the point. Lague would fire a low one-timer through traffic and past de Jonge for her second goal of the season.
The Colonials would grab the lead with just 46.8 seconds left in the period, as Mackenzie Johnston would intercept a clearing pass from behind the RIT net, zip around and fire a pass to Ledlova in front, who beat de Jonge to the blocker side for her third goal of the season.
Both teams would add another power-play goal each in the second period, as the Colonials would lead 3-2 after 40 minutes of play.
The Colonials would make it a 3-1 game just 3:48 into the second, as Howard would clean up the rebound off a shot by Rennie in front, after being set up by Kirsten Welsh.
de Jonge would be called upon to make a handful of big saves later in the period to keep it a two-goal game. Her best came on a Johnston, who was left all alone in front.
RIT would cut the Robert Morris lead to 3-2 with 4:29 left in the period, as Black would score her first collegiate goal, swiping in a shot by Cornine that looked to be heading into the open net just before it crossed the goal line. Cornine would take a feed from Reagan Rust (Southaven, MS/Moon Area) and fire a shot that Bailey stopped. Cornine would get her own rebound and fire a shot off the Robert Morris goaltender that looked to be heading in before Black made no doubt for the goal.
The Colonials would tack on a big insurance goal just before the halfway point of the period, as Rennie would convert on a rebound in front after Howard tipped a point shot from Mikaela Lowater that de Jonge stopped.
RIT would cut the Colonials lead to 4-3 with 3:11 left in regulation, as Clayton would jam a loose puck home in the crease for her second goal of the season. The played was originally ruled no goal, as the referee ruled that Bailey covered the puck. McDonald would challenge the call and was deemed that the puck clearly crossed the line. Robert Morris would then challenge for goaltender interference and lose its timeout when the goal stood. Taylor Thurston (Kanata, Ontario/All Saints Catholic) and Kandice Sheriff (Brampton, Ontario) would assist on the goal.
The Tigers would try to get de Jonge off the ice for the extra attacker in the final minute, but could never gain the Colonials zone, as Robert Morris would hang on.
The all-time series between the two schools is tied, 10-10-3. After tomorrow’s game, the two teams also play at Robert Morris on Feb. 10-11.
The two teams wrap up the weekend series on Saturday from the Gene Polisseni Center at 2:05 p.m. Right after Saturday’s game, RIT’s Skate With the Tigers event will take place at the Polisseni Center. Fans will be able to receive free autographs and skate with their favorite Tiger players.
