CRANBERRY TWP., PA. — The Robert Morris Colonials fell to the Bemidji State Beavers 3-1 at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex on Friday in the first day of the Battle at the Burgh tournament.
The Colonials opened the scoring on a power-play goal by Janelle Evans at 2:07 of the first, but yielded goals 9 seconds apart to the Beavers as Taylor Nelson and Hailey Armstrong each found the cage behind Maggie Hatch in the second period. Armstrong added an empty net goal to seal the game.
“It was a good test today coming off of break,” Logan Bittle said. “I really like how our team came out in the first period, we were hungry. We are creating a lot of chances over the last handful of games, we need to keep working to get that monkey off of our back. The effort level and compete level was there, we have that figured out now, now it’s time to figure out how to cash in on our opportunities, once we do that it will lead to great things.”
Bemidji State moves on to face the Colgate Raiders in the championship contest of the tournament, while Robert Morris faces the University of Maine in the consolation game.
OPENING CONTEST
The tournament opened with the No. 4 ranked Colgate Raiders and University of Maine Black Bears playing their first game in just over 19 years, and while Maine held a substantial all-time lead, it was Colgate who rode a ferocious and relentless forecheck to an 8-2 final. The Raiders move on to play at 5:00 in the championship game at the Lemieux Sports Complex.
BACK TO THE ‘BURGH
The tournament has been a hotbed for returning members of the Pittsburgh Pens Elite program, and this year was no exception. The Colgate Raiders received a goal from Kaitlyn O’Donohoe, while fellow Elite alumnus Schooley and Liviya Rubin dressed for the Colonials. Colgate assistant Chelsea Walkland made another appearance behind the bench for the Raiders in the tournament. Walkland was an assistant coach on Paul Colontino’s Robert Morris staff, sharing the bench with current Colonials head coach Logan Bittle.
