NEVILLE TWP., Pa. — Jaycee Gebhard scored a hat-trick and collected two assists and Lexi Templemen scored once with four helpers in a 6-1 victory over the Union Dutchwomen on Friday night at the RMU Island Sports Center.
For Gebhard, it was another day in the life as the captain scored two goals and added an assist from a combined seven feet. The first was on a feed from junior Templeman, as the Dutchwomen left her all alone in the slot. The second was on a tap-in as play developed in front, when Michaela Boyle and Templeman crashed the net, distracting the defenders and the senior found the puck in the crease. Her third was the most impressive, as the senior collected her own rebound as she crossed the crease and fired it past Murray.
A set face-off play allowed the two Colonials to register their 5th point each, as Gebhard won the face-off forward, bounced a pass off the net-minder and to Templeman, making it 6-1.
Mackenzie Krasowski kicked things off at 4:36, crashing the crease en-route to the opening goal, assisted by both Templeman and Gebhard.
Union was able to get on the board at 10:35 after a series of misfortunate events (Anjelica Diffendal and Burbidge taking checking minors back-to-back) led to a Katelynn Russ shot that beat Raygan Kirk five-hole.
Diffendal’s highlight-reel roof shot over Murray at 13:35 of the 3rd gave the Colonials their fourth goal of the evening. First-year Joelle Fiala carried the puck past the circles, distracting the Dutchwomen’s goaltender and placing a perfect pass on the stick of the junior who placed the shot into the top of the open net.
SOLID DEBUT
The Colonials controlled play the entire game outside of the aforementioned 5-on-3, keeping rebounds at a minimum and dominating offensive zone possession. The young and inexperienced defense kept the shots to the outside as Kirk made the most of her NCAA debut, stopping 23-of-24 shots en-route to her first collegiate victory.
UP NEXT
The Colonials and Dutchwomen face-off on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. in the finale of the series. It doesn’t get easier for Robert Morris, as perennial powerhouses Minnesota (Oct 11-12) and Clarkson (Oct 18-19) invade the Island Sports Center next.
