A return to Houston Field House for the first home games of the regular season did little to help the Engineers recover from last weekend's sweep at the hands of Niagara, and RPI dropped two more decisions to the Colonials of Robert Morris. A penalty-filled game on Friday saw RPI fall 5-1 despite outshooting RMU 32-16, and the Engineers dropped a 4-2 decision on Saturday despite playing a seemingly better game.
Friday
Smelker/Mahoney/Horton
Cox/Harrison/Vandegrift
Sanders/Guillemette/Svoboda
Letuligasenoa/Walsh
Castignetti/Marzario
Le Donne/Vadner
Schilter
O'Brien
Despite nine Engineer power play opportunities in the game, it was Robert Morris who made their opportunites count, cashing in on consecutive 5-on-3 power play opportunities in the first period to jump out to a 2-0 lead less than ten minutes in.
With Taylor Mahoney and Amanda Castignetti in the box, it took RMU's Rebecca Vint just five seconds off the ensuing offensive zone faceoff to beat netminder Kelly O'Brien for a 1-0 lead. While still down a skater on the remaining penalty, Mahoney was sent right back for roughing, putting RMU back up by two skaters.
The Engineers nearly outlasted the second 5-on-3, but with about 20 seconds remaining in the 2-man advantage, Vint doubled the Colonials' lead, slipping a shot past O'Brien from close range to make it 2-0.
RPI found itself down 5-on-3 yet again before the period was over, but they survived the opportunity and went on to apply some pressure of their own - albeit with nothing to show for it. The period ended with RMU leading 2-0 despite RPI holding an 11-8 shot advantage.
RMU distanced itself a little more early in the second, as Paige Pietrangelo fired a rocket past O'Brien from the point to make it 3-0.
The Engineers would get their only goal of the game on a 5-on-3 opportunity of their own. Just 20 seconds into the 2-man advantage, Madison Marzario took a big shot of her own from the point, beating Kristen DiCiocco to cut the RMU lead to 3-1.
RMU tacked on two more goals in the third period, including a power play marker from Kelsey Thomas and a Thea Imbrogno empty-netter for good measure.
Even with the lopsided 32-16 shot count in favor of the Engineers, RMU mostly controlled the flow of the game from the moment the Engineers took their first penalty, making it appear like RPI was going through the motions but was not entirely into the game.
Another positive came out of the game for the Colonials, whose Brianna Delaney broke RMU's record for career points when she notched an assist on the first goal of the game. She would go on to hit the 100-point mark on Saturday.
Saturday
Smelker/Guillemette/Horton
Cox/Harrison/Vandegrift
Sanders/Mahoney/Svoboda
Letuligasenoa/Walsh
Castignetti/Marzario
Le Donne/Vadner
Schilter
Piper
If nothing else, RPI cleaned up the penalty problem between Friday night and Saturday afternoon, but that alone wasn't enough to get the Engineers a different result. In a much more closely-contested match, RPI and RMU played a much more technically-sound and evenly-matched affair, which was never really in the bag until an empty netter late in the third period.
While RPI did cut back on penalties significantly on Saturday, they did still take the first penalty of the game - and RMU capitalized quickly. Brianna Delaney took a pass in front of the net and beat Brianna Piper below the blocker for a 1-0 lead.
RPI tied the game a few minutes later when Laura Guillemette banked a shot off a defender's skate past DiCiocco to make it one-all. The tie held up through most of the first period until Dayna Newsom took a pass in the crease and beat Piper to make it 2-1.
RMU extended their lead to two goals at 5:01 of the third period, when Delaney scored her second of the afternoon to make it 3-1. Again, RPI answered quickly, with Jordan Smelker taking a pass from Andie Le Donne and roofing a shot over DiCiocco to bring RPI back within one.
RPI pushed for the tying goal, but lost some momentum in the third period when they went down 5-on-3 in what had otherwise been a penalty free game after Le Donne's in the first period. Rebecca Vint picked up her third goal on the weekend as she put the puck into the empty net at 19:42 to put the game away with a 4-2 final.
RPI remains home next weekend as they open up ECAC play against Quinnipiac and Princeton. Both games will be at 3pm since the men will be facing off against Colorado College at 7pm after each. While the games are not currently scheduled for broadcast, don't be surprised if Friday afternoon's game gets picked up by WRPI. Saturday's game, which would air head-to-head with the Dutchman's Shoes football game at Union, will certainly not be broadcast. Both games will of course have live stats and video available via the RPI website, and live updates provided at Without a Peer.
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RPI vs. Robert Morris
Non-Conference Game – Houston Field House (Troy, NY)
10/21/11 – 7:00pm
RMU 5, RPI 1
BOX SCORES:
College Hockey Stats: http://collegehockeystats.net/1112/boxes/wrenrmu1.o21
RECAPS:
RECORD: 2-3-2 (0-0 ECAC)
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RPI vs. Robert Morris
Non-Conference Game – Houston Field House (Troy, NY)
10/22/11 – 4:00pm
RMU 4, RPI 2
BOX SCORES:
College Hockey Stats: http://collegehockeystats.net/1112/boxes/wrenrmu1.o22
RECAPS:
RECORD: 2-4-2 (0-0 ECAC)
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Upcoming Games
Oct. 28 - Quinnipiac (3pm)
Oct. 29 - Princeton (3pm)
Nov. 4 - St. Lawrence (7pm)
Nov. 5 - Clarkson (4pm)
Nov. 11 - at Brown (7pm)
Nov. 12 - at Yale (4pm)
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