NEVILLE TWP., PA. — The Union Garnet Chargers defeated the Robert Morris Colonials 4-2 at the Island Sports Center Saturday afternoon. Union received goals from Stephanie Bourque, Karianne Engelbert, Mallory Mauracher and Maren Friday. Emma Goding and Veronica Bac found the back of the cage for the Colonials.
Robert Morris was stymied throughout the game by an aggressive Union attack but did not allow the Garnet Chargers into their heads, which is a testament to the growing pains of the young squad.
“There’s a lot to take away from that game,” Logan Bittle explained. “One of the biggest things is that in our third period we didn’t give up, we didn’t quit. We blocked a lot of shots and sold out. We gave ourselves a chance. Unfortunately the first 40 minutes weren’t good enough of an effort for us. With a young team we have to learn what makes us tick.”
PHILLIPS IN NET
One of the newcomers to this season is transfer goaltender Lucy Phillips. The redshirt first year comes to the Island from Quinnipiac and started her first collegiate game in the loss. The Nova Scotia native won gold in 2022 with Team Canada’s U18 team.
THE GAME
Union jumped out to a 2-0 lead on power play goals by Bourque at 3:03 and Engelbert (the first of her collegiate career) at 17:11 before Emma Goding’s shot found a path through a large contingent of players and behind the starter Matsoukas at 18:35. Mauracher tucked in a puck off the post of Robert Morris starter Lucy Phillips at 5:57 of the second. Veronica Bac finished a scramble with her third of the season on the power play at 18:11 before the Garnet Chargers finished the scoring with a Maren Friday empty net power play goal at 19:19.
Matsoukas stopped 22 in the win for Union while Phillips finshed with 33 saves on 36 shots for the Colonials.
UP NEXT
Robert Morris welcomes Bemidji State to the Robert Morris Island Sports Center next Friday and Saturday, October 4 & 5 for a two game set. Face-off is set for Friday at 7:00pm with the return of the fan favorite Skate with the Colonials postgame. Saturday’s contest is slated for a 3:00pm start.
