NEVILLE TWP., Pa. — The RMU women’s hockey team extended its unbeaten streak to 8 games (6-0-2) with a 5-2 victory Saturday afternoon, completing the sweep against the RIT Tigers.
For the second straight night, the Colonials surpassed 50 shots, and controlled play for most of the game. Brittany Howard scored twice, bringing her season total to an NCAA-leading 14 in just 12 games. Elijah Milne-Price made 16 saves for the victory.
The Colonials got off to a good start for the second straight night, outshooting the Tigers 17-7 in the first period. Their first goal came about halfway through the first period during a good shift for the fourth line of Aneta Ledlova, Emilie Harley and Anjelica Diffendal.
The line applied good pressure with a strong forecheck, then Ledlova forced a turnover near the blue line. She left the puck for Harley, who took a hard low shot off the pads. Diffendal crashed the net and knocked in the rebound. It was the first NCAA goal for the Pittsburgh native and Pens Elite product.
“It’s an amazing feeling, being able to do it in front of my family and friends, on home ice,” Diffendal said. “I grew up watching [Robert Morris] play, so it’s just a great feeling.”
“She’s worked hard, and she’s been battling through the ups and downs of being a freshman, earning her ice time and earning her spot,” head coach Paul Colontino said. “Adjusting to this level isn’t easy, going from U-19s to college. It was very fitting to see her drive that net, with that long, hard stride, and get a nice goal to really get us going.”
The Colonials continued to test RIT Goalie Terra Lanteigne. With Jaycee Gebhard out of the lineup, Howard and Amber Rennie were joined by first-year forward Lexie Templeman on the first line. The trio broke into the zone later in the first and nearly scored on the rush after some nice passing. Howard then gathered the rebound, skated from corner to top of left circle and fired it in through traffic.
In the second, the teams traded goals. RIT’s Claudia Black scored her second of the season after the Tigers won an offensive zone faceoff, applied good pressure down low and then the puck came in front to Black, who beat Milne-Price.
With 6:41 remaining in the second, the Colonials killed off a penalty, and just as it expired, Rennie passed it off the boards to Howard. She used her strength to hold off the defender, deked and beat the goalie in what was a beautiful goal. Late in the period, the Tigers got a rush and Kandice Sheriff and Black combined for Black’s second of the night.
In the third, the Colonials opened up a lead with good possession in the offensive zone for an extended period of time.
Blueliner Emily Curlett took a hard low shot that was deflected in front by Sarah Lecavalier, her fourth of the season, tying her total from last season with North Dakota.
With 7:29 left, the Colonials again scored right at the end of a penalty kill. They cycled the puck to the at point, where this time it was Maggie LaGue that took a long shot off the pads of Lanteigne. Rennie gathered the rebound and put it in the back of the net for her ninth of the season, also tying the amount she scored last season.
The Colonials earned their ninth win of the season and fourth in CHA play, heading into a much-deserved bye weekend after six straight weekends of games, including 10 straight to open the season. The’ll prepare for series against a strong Ohio State team the weekend of Nov 24.
