CRANBERRY TWP., Pa. — Redshirt sophomore Kyleigh Hanzlik’s first collegiate goal with seven seconds remaining beat starting goaltender Liz Auby to clinch a 6-5 victory on Sunday afternoon in the consolation game of the Battle at the Burgh tournament at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex.
Anjelica Diffendal’s pass from the blue-line found the stick of the transfer, and the Wisconsin Falls, Wisconsin native skated in, spun around a Raiders defender and fired a backhand shot that slipped through the net-minders pads for the victory.
“I knew it was the last shift,” Hanzlik said. “I just wanted to get the puck on net”
Robert Morris jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first five minutes of the contest, as Michaela Boyle and Leah Marino found the back of the net, with the Raiders storming back to tie the game on goals by Danielle Serdachny and Allyson Simpson. Emily Curlett’s 11th goal of the season gave the Colonials a 3-2 lead heading into the break.
The Raiders jumped all over the Colonials in the second, with Tanner Gates and Sammy Smigliani’s goals giving Colgate a 4-3 lead halfway through the stanza. Maggy Burbidge capitalized on a 3-on-0 to tie the game with just under six minutes to go in the period.
Anjelica Diffendal’s third period go-ahead tally was one-upped by Malia Schneider later in the contest, and it seemed the teams were headed to the extra period before Hanzlik fired home the winner.
COMPLETE CELEBRATION
The goal for Hanzlik was extra-special as the team she transferred from, the Wisconsin Badgers, were watching in preparation for their championship game against Northeastern by the Colonials bench. The celebration continued past the normal high-five line as the forward had an extra special fly-by for her former teammates.
Her teammates reciprocated, making an already memorable moment extraordinary.
“It was a neat feeling to know that everybody’s honestly just behind you and so supportive and wants the best for you,” Hanzlik said. “It’s pretty cool.”
NOTEWORTHY
Junior defender Emily Curlett registered four points on the day, establishing a single-season individual record of 25 in 20 games… Senior Jaycee Gebhard’s two assists gave her 173 career points, moving her eight points from tying the RMU career record set by Brittany Howard… Anjelica Diffendal’s goal and assist set a single-season high for the junior from the Penguins Elite.
UP NEXT
Robert Morris heads to Rochester for a conference matchup with RIT. Face-off is scheduled for 2:00 on Friday and noon on Saturday from the Gene Polisseni Center.
