The Robert Morris women’s ice hockey program completed their first regular season since being cut in 2021. Now all focus shifts to the College Hockey America (CHA) playoffs where Robert Morris last finished atop the CHA in 2021. The Colonials (14-17-1, 11-8-1 CHA) had a roller coaster of a season, which can be exemplified in their two series against their semifinal opponent Mercyhurst (18-15-1, 14-6 CHA).
SEASON SERIES
In their two games in Erie in late October, the Colonials split the series at one game apiece.
In game one, the Lakers had an offensive explosion resulting in nine goals, led by senior forward Sara Boucher who accounted for three of the scores. The Colonials were only able to solve Ena Nystrøm twice. Nystrom would be in net for all four games for the Lakers against the Colonials.
In game two the Colonials would win a thriller to get themselves back into the win column. Mercyhurst would tie the game late in the third period with a goal by Sofia Ljung, but Madison Primeau would score her second of the game as she answered back just 36 seconds later to put the Colonials up 3-2 with just over a minute remaining. Maggie Hatch would close the door with a 41-save performance.
The two teams would meet again on the Island in January and recreate a very similar two game series split as the first matchups.
In game one Mercyhurst would torch the Colonials undisciplined play, going 4-for-5 on the power play. The Colonials finished the year leading the NCAA in penalties with 148 penalties, and have a 78.4% on penalty kill
Saturday would be another bounce back game for the Colonials as they came back from an early power play goal from Chantal Ste-Croix. Ste-Croix’s goal would be the last the Lakers would score on the advantage finishing the day 1-for-8 on the power play.
The two rookies that have led the Colonials all season would cue the stuffed fun, with the teddy bear toss, as Alaina Giampietro passed to Janelle Evans who would beat Nystrom, Giampietro would get one of her own too, early in the third to put the Colonials up. Hatch would bounce back from being pulled in game one with a 34 save showing.
KEY TO THE SERIES
The first key to victory would be to stay out of the box. In playoff time, giving the opponents momentum, or even slowing your own momentum down will be detrimental. As the Colonials have led the NCAA in power play opportunities against, and Mercyhurst is top of the CHA in power play percentage, they will need to have a disciplined series and stay out of the box.
The second key to victory would be to limit the shots. The Colonials senior leaders Ally Herbert and Wasyn Rice sit atop the CHA in blocked shots, Herbert with 69 and Rice with 63. Limiting the number of shots Hatch or Gorski will face could push the Colonials into the finals.
The third and final key is to keep the freshmen’s sticks hot. Giampietro and Evans currently lead the team in points, as Evans has 28 and Giampietro has 27. Each has taken home four CHA rookie of the week honors.
Since their matchup against Mercyhurst, Evans has 11 points in eight game and Giampietro has had eight points in her last eight games. Despite being their first season, these two have been steady as a rock for the Colonials.
Game one will be on Friday at 2 p.m., game two will be on Saturday at 2 p.m., and game three will also be at 2 p.m. if necessary on Sunday.
All three games will be at Mercyhurst Ice Center. The winner of the series will either travel to face CHA number one seed Penn State in Happy Valley or play host to fourth seed RIT Tigers.
