NEVILLE TWP., PA.– Robert Morris returned to play at home on Saturday in a big way, defeating St. Anselm 6-1 at the Island Sports Center. Janelle Evans led the scorers with a goal and two assists.
Six different Colonials scored for Robert Morris, who improve to 2-1 on the regular season.
BACK TO THE ISLAND
In a day that saw alumni return, old hockey families reunited and even a couple hockey games thrown in, the whole day was a celebration of the accomplishments of the Pittsburgh Hockey Foundation (now known as the College Hockey Foundation), the school and the players with a return to the ice. Players were brought in through the red carpet treatment as well as the individual on-ice introductions.
THE NEW BATCH
Building the team was tough, but the on-ice results so far have been worth it.
“Obviously it’s a differnt world with the Transfer Portal,” Bittle said. “We’re real happy with the youngsters, the freshman class, but obviously you can’t replace a class every four years. We had to go out and find a way to balance your classes out.”
“I think it’s always difficult,” Junior Forward Madison Primeau said. “If you have the right people, the right environment and the right culture around you it makes it easier. Even having two years under my belt, it’s always a bit nerve racking.”
THE GAME
The Colonials didn’t waste time, opening up the contest at 1:14 with Mya Neugent’s shot from the right side of the cage. Madison Primeau gave Robert Morris a two goal lead at 5:41, finishing a rush after coming out of the penalty box. After first-year Kaitlyn Schooley’s shot found the back of the cage at 5:10 in the third, the rout was on as Evans, Giannone, and Giampietro each found the scoresheet.
The Colonials were outshot 9-6 in the first, before rattling off 36 shots in the final two frames.
“I think we battled through adversity throughout the first two periods,” Giampietro stated. “We stuck with the game. Even though it was a 6-1 win, it wasn’t like that the whole game. We really found ourselves in the third period.”
Robert Morris led with net-minder Maggie Hatch, one of the taxi-squad members that attended the university during the previous year. Hatch stopped 30-of-31 shots she faced.
St. Anselm, led by Colonials alumnus Jennifer Kindret used a contingent of all three of her available netminders, with Annabella Lalande, Carina Mancini and Courtney Stagman getting one period apiece. The Hawks lone goal came off of the stick of Maddy McCaffery.
PHYSICALLY SPEAKING
The Colonials filled the scoresheet in the same fashion that previous teams were built around – scoring often, and in bunches. But this squad displayed something completely unique from the previous teams – a level of physicallity that has not been seen prior.
“We have to ring that in,” Logan Bittle said. “I do like the intensity. We need that finish on plays. Between the whistles though. A couple of penalties we could avoid, but we need that fight, that mentality.”
UP NEXT
Robert Morris wrap up their series at noon on Sunday against St. Anselm at the Island Sports Center. The Colonials head to New Jersey for a matchup with Princeton next weekend. Face-off is at 6:00pm on Friday and 1:00pm on Saturday.
