NEVILLE TWP, Pa. — Michaela Boyle scored twice and Kyleigh Hanzlik scored her fourth goal in just her fifth game with the squad as the Colonials defeated the Syracuse Orange 5-1 on Friday night, grabbing sole possession of first in College Hockey America in the process.
Boyle scored her first of the contest at 9:14 of the second, lifting a puck over Ady Cohen and through a contingent of Syracuse defenders to give the Colonials a 3-1 lead. Her second was a 2-on-1 goal with Lexi Templeman at 1:56 of the third frame, setting up shop in the crease and tapping home the pass to make it a three-goal lead.
For Hanzlik, it had been a whirlwind tour to get to her new home as the redshirt sophomore played games at Lemieux Sports Complex and the Gene Polisseni Center before making her debut at the Island Sports Center in the contest. Her goal at 4:46 of the 2nd proved to be the game-winner, her second of that style in that same short span.
Robert Morris opened up the scoring at 5:21 of the first as the junior Templeman scored her second goal in as many games, poking home a rebound in front of the crease on a Boyle shot. Jaycee Gebhard closed the scoring in the third period with the team’s second power-play goal in three tries on the night.
Templeman finished with four points on the night with the goal and three assists, while Boyle added an assist to her two goals to finish with three points.
First-year net minder Raygan Kirk turned away 19-of-20 on the contest for her eighth win of the season.
RECORD WATCH
Jaycee Gebhard finished with a goal and an assist, closing within three points of the RMU career record of 181 set by Brittany Howard in 2017…. Junior defender Emily Curlett remains two goals behind Kirsten Welsh for the defensive career goal-scoring record of 34.
UP NEXT
Robert Morris and Syracuse close their series at the Island on Saturday with a 3:05 p.m. matinee.
