vs. St. Cloud State (2-3-1, WCHA)

Transcription

1 Schedule September 28 (Fri.) Brampton Jr. (exh.) W, 4-2 October 2 (Tues.) #2 MERCYHURST* L, #1 Wisconsin L, #1 Wisconsin L, (Fri.) CLARKSON W, (Sat.) CLARKSON L, (Fri.) ST. CLOUD ST. 3:05 p.m. 27 (Sat.) ST. CLOUD ST. 3:05 p.m. 30 #3 Mercyhurst* 7:35 p.m. November 2 (Fri.) SACRED HEART 7:35 p.m. 3 (Sat.) SACRED HEART 7:35 p.m. 9 Maine 2:00 p.m. 10 Maine 2:00 p.m. 16 Bemidji State 7:07 p.m. 17 Bemidji State 6:07 p.m. 23 Brown 2:00 p.m. 25 Providence 2:00 p.m. December 7 (Fri) RIT 11:05 a.m. 8 (Sat.) RIT 4:05 p.m. 29 (Sat.) MINNESOTA STATE 7:05 p.m. 30 (Sun.) MINNESOTA STATE 1:05 p.m. January 3 Quinnipiac 7:00 p.m. 4 Quinnipiac 7:00 p.m. 18 RPI 7:00 p.m. 19 RPI 3:00 p.m. 25 (Fri.) WAYNE STATE * 7:35 p.m. 26 (Sat.) WAYNE STATE * 7:35 p.m. February 8 (Fri.) NIAGARA * 7:35 p.m. 9 (Sat.) NIAGARA * 7:35 p.m. 15 Wayne State * 7:00 p.m. 16 Wayne State * 7:00 p.m. 22 Niagara * 7:00 p.m. 23 Niagara * 7:00 p.m. 29 #3 Mercyhurst* 7:05 p.m. March 1 (Sat.) #3 MERCYHURST* 7:35 p.m. 7 (Fri.) CHA Tournament TBA 8 (Sat.) CHA Tournament TBA 9 (Sun.) CHA Tournament TBA Skate for the Cure Game Home games in CAPS; All time Eastern All home games played at the RMU Island Sports Center * College Hockey America game vs. St. Cloud State (2-3-1, WCHA) Friday / Saturday, October 26 / 27, RMU Island Sports Center / Pittsburgh, Pa. - 3:05 p.m. Series at a Glance Overall: At RMU: At SCSU: Neutral: Top Story The Robert Morris University women s ice hockey team looks to wrap up the second half of their fourgame home-stand on a high note as they take on the St. Cloud State Huskies on Oct. 26 and Oct. 27 for a two-game series at the RMU Island Sports Center. This is the second time these two teams have met as the Colonials faced the Huskies a year ago in their season opener. Off the Schneid The Colonials earned their first victory of the season last weekend against a tough Clarkson squad, defeating the Golden Knights, 3-1, Friday night en route to their first win of the season and first ever against Clarkson. On Saturday though, Clarkson returned the favor, pitching a shut-out against the Colonials, 1-0, and taking a split of the two-game series. Series Statistics This weekend s series marks the first time the Colonials have faced the Huskies at the RMU Island Sports Center. The Colonials are lifetime against SCSU, playing them for the first time in their seasonopener a year ago. RMU dropped the first game of the series, 4-0, but battled back in game two to earn a 3-3 tie. Skate for the Cure In light of the overwhelming success, the Robert Morris University women s ice hockey team and College Hockey America are proud to sponsor the second annual Skate for the Cure event this season. Robert Morris hosts the St. Cloud State Huskies of the WCHA on Saturday, Oct., 27, at 3:05 p.m. at the RMU Island Sports Center for the Skate for the Cure game sponsored by My Way Mobile Storage and in association with Lanxess, Fina Promotions, Cost Cutters and Clearview Federal Credit Union. Each guest in attendance will receive a breast cancer awareness giveaway courtesy of RMU sponsors and has a chance to receive a special giveaway from the Susan G. Komen Foundation. The event, led by the schools of College Hockey America including Mercyhurst College, Wayne State University, Niagara University and Robert Morris University, gives the players, coaches and staff a chance to inform their local and surrounding communities of the impact that breast cancer poses to many women in their everyday lives. Each school dedicates one game from their regular-season schedule as their Skate for the Cure game, where all of the proceeds collected for the event are donated towards breast cancer research. At the end of the season, all four schools pool the collected funds together to make a donation to a foundation, chosen by College Hockey America, at the end of the annual CHA Women s Championship Tournament. On the Internet All Robert Morris men s and women s hockey home games can be heard live on the internet by visiting Gero Von Dehn returns for his fourth season of play-by-play while Bob Kennedy will provide color commentary.

2 Women s Ice Hockey vs. St. Cloud State Game 6 / 7 Scouting St. Cloud State Robert Morris has a tough task ahead of them as they host St. Cloud State for a two-game series this weekend at the RMU Island Sports Center. St. Cloud enters into the series fresh off a split against the new #2-ranked and two-time defending national champion Wisconsin. St. Cloud upset the Badgers last Friday at the National Hockey Center by a score of 2-1.The following night was a different story as the Badgers steam-rolled the Huskies, 5-0. None the less, St. Cloud State is a formidable opponent hailing from the perennial power conference of the WCHA. St. Cloud is currently on the season while they reflect the same record in league play. The Huskies have back-to-back wins against Minnesota and Wisconsin while dropping games to the Badgers and Minnesota-Duluth. SCSU bolsters a strong group of forwards led by Meaghan Pezon. Pezon leads the team in goals and points with three goals and four points. Right behind her is Holly Roberts with a goal and two assists for three points. On defense, St. Cloud is led by a young core of players including offensive-defenseman Danielle Hirsch who leads all blue-liners with three points. Brita Schroeder is second in scoring from the back with an assist. Between the pipes is Kendall Newell. The senior net-minder has accumulated a record thus far with a 2.76 goals against average and a.922 save percentage. Meet the Captains Sure Shot Junior Alissa Dorman has found herself once again at the top of the Colonials leader boards. The junior forward is tied for the lead in points with two, scoring a goal and an assist on the season. She is also leading the team in shooting percentage with a perfect 1.000, scoring her only goal, the gamewinner against Clarkson, on one shot. Solo Power-Player Sophomore Mallory Giambra has been the only Colonial to tickle the twine on the extra-man advantage this season. Giambra hit pay dirt when she scored off a five-on-four opportunity from the blue-line in the second game against Wisconsin back on October 6, The goal gave RMU their first tally ever against the Badgers and broke up Wisconsin s shut-out. To this point the Colonials are one for 22 on the power-play. McLaughlin by the Numbers As the women s ice hockey season progresses, so does the stats for the Colonials Brianne McLaughlin. The junior goaltender ranks among some of the best in Division I women s ice hockey. McLaughlin s.948 save percentage is sixth in the country, behind notables Kim Martin of Minnesota- Duluth (.986) and Molly Schaus of Boston College (.955).. In the category of overall goaltending leaders, McLaughlin sits in the 19th spot with a 181 saves made and a 2.02 goals against average. Jenny Niewsluchowski owns the #1-ranking with 36 saves on 36 shots, compiling a perfect save percentage and a 0.00 goals against average. Players have to play at least 33% of their team s minutes to considered for the rankings Two is Always Better... The Riley sisters are the first set of twins to play a sport for the Colonials since the Aloi sisters, Natalie and Nicole, played softball and graduated from Robert Morris in Mile High to the Motor City Before coming to Robert Morris to play hockey, freshman Whitney Pappas (Evergreen, Co. / Belle Tire) relocated once before to play the game. Moving from the untraditional hockey area of Colorado, Pappas took her game to the booming area of Detroit, Michigan, where she played her senior season with Belle Tire in pursuit of Division I opportunities. Home Grown Talent The Robert Morris University women s ice hockey team didn t look far to find good talent when they had it right in their backyard. Juniors Brianne McLaughlin (Sheffield Village, Oh. / Ohio Flames), Jenny Monteleone (Fox Chapel, Pa. / Ohio Flames) and Angela Kost (Moon Township, Pa. / Ohio Flames) all hail from the states of Pennsylvania and Ohio. State Champions or Bust Head coach Nate Handrahan has a couple players that know something about lengthy winning streaks. Freshmen Dy-anna Stewart (Eden Prairie, Minn. / Eden Prairie) and Maria Stoa (Bloomington, Minn. / Eden Prairie) helped engineer a 57-game winning streak as members of Eden Prairie s women s ice hockey team en route to a 2006 Minnesota State Championship. Multi-Sports Athletes The Robert Morris women s ice hockey team knows how to make the most of their free-time away from the ice...on the other Colonial playing fields. Juniors Megan Picinic (Cliffside, N.J. / Pennsauken Tigerlillies) and Morgan Beikirch (Livonia, N.Y. / Syracuse Stars) all are dual-sport athletes at Robert Morris University. #14 Kristen Miles Junior Forward Captain #11 Morgan Beikirch Junior Forward Asst.Captain #33 Briane McLaughlin Junior Goaltender Asst.Captain #9 Alissa Dorman Junior Forward Asst.Captain Picinic, when she s not playing forward for head coach Nate Handrahan, is out on the diamond playing for coach Coleman and the softball team while Beikirch likes to get a good round of 18 in as she plays for par and coach Stone with the women s golf squad.

3 Women s Ice Hockey vs. St. Cloud State Game 6 / 7 RMU against WCHA Teams Of the six different conferences the Colonials have played teams from, no other conference has given them the most grief other than the WCHA. RMU is a lifetime against WCHA teams with losses coming from Wisconsin, St. Cloud State and Minnesota State.The Colonials received their lone tie in their second game against St. Cloud State, ending the contest, 3-3. ECACHL Schedule Oct. 5 / 6 at Wisconsin Oct. 26 / 27 vs. St. Cloud State Dec. 29 / 30 vs. Minnesota State Home Sweet Home The women s ice hockey team will have all the luxuries of the RMU Island Sports Center for the next six of seven games. The Colonials kick off a four-game homestand beginning with Clarkson this Friday night before wrapping up with a series against St. Cloud State next weekend. After that, the Colonials take a short trip up I-79 to face the #2 Mercyhurst Lakers in a College Hockey America Showdown before returning back home to take on Sacred Heart on Nov 2. Really Special Teams Despite the offensive woes on the power-play, the Robert Morris penalty kill has been keeping it s opponents on the ropes. The RMU penalty kill is currently ranked 10th in the country, giving up only two goals (both against Wisconsin) out of 30 opportunities (93%). Last Time Out... Robert Morris kicked off the start of a four-game homestand last weekend taking on the Clarkson Golden Knights of the ECACHL. It was a good series for the Colonials earning their first split of the season by taking game one by a score of 3-1 but falling in game two, 2-0. Debuting in their new alternate red jerseys in game one, the Colonials got off to a sluggish start falling behind early in the first period. Clarkson s Jessica Cloutier got the Golden Knights on the board, redirecting a shot from classmate Rebecca Gordon on the left side of the net for the 1-0 advantage at 3:35. After a tough first period, RMU kicked off the rust and got down to business, scoring three unanswered goals through the remaining periods. Sophomore Chelsea Walkland tied the game late into the second period. Walkland took a pass in front of the net and buried it over the head of the Clarkson goaltender at 14:11. Assists were credited to sophomore Jessica Riley and sophomore Jordan Riley. Junior Alissa Dorman gave the Colonials a 2-1 edge midway through the third period. Freshman Maria Stoa fed a pass to Dorman on the blue-line who sent it sailing through heavy traffic for the eventual game-winner at the 8:39 mark. From that point on, Robert Morris kept the Golden Knights in line with some stellar team defense and solid play from junior goaltender Brianne McLaughlin. With the one goal lead and time winding down, RMU looked to cap on some insurance. Junior Kathryn Traynor scored the Colonials third goal of the game off a rebound from the right side of the net with less than six minutes to play. Senior Maria Olausson and sophomore Mallory Giambra helped in the play. McLaughlin played 59:26 while making 25 saves to earn her first victory of the season. Clarkson held the advantage in shots, while both teams were shut-out on the power-play. Unfortunately, game two didn t have the same result as the Colonials were shut-out, 1-0. Junior Brianne McLaughlin was just sensational in her fifth appearance of the season for the Colonials, playing 58:46 and making 29 saves. In a penalty-laden game with both teams combining for a 0-15 mark on the power-play, it only took one even strength goal early in the third period to break the ice. Clarkson s Melissa Waldie became the hero for the Golden Knights when she put away her fourth goal of the season 2:52 into the third period. Waldie connected off of a pass from teammate Katie Morrison in front of the net to beat McLaughlin stick side for the score. Clarkson held the advantage in shots, 30-11, while both teams defenses played especially tough on the powerplay with CU going 0-9 and RMU, 0-6.

4 Women s Ice Hockey vs. St. Cloud State Game 6 / 7 Media Information Hockey SID: Erik Kaminski Office: (412) Mobile: (412) Sidga02@rmu.edu Website Information: The RMU website contains schedules, rosters, updated statistics along with all releases including archives from previous seasons. Website Address: Information regarding Robert Morris women s ice hockey is available on the following websites which cover college women s hockey Weekly Game Notes: Game notes will be made available each week that Robert Morris women s ice hockey has a game scheduled. The full game notes are available only in PDF format while portions of the game notes are available in a text version on the RMU website. If you are interested in being added to the RMU women s ice hockey distribustion list please contact the RMU sports information department. Gameday Services: Gameday packages will be made available containing game programs, game notes and linecharts in addition to updated statistics and standings and will be available in the press box for all home games. Radio Policy: Visiting radio stations wishing to originate from the RMU Island Sports Center are asked to contact the Hockey SID Erik Kaminski, prior to the game to make arrangements for broadcast. All RMU home games are webcast on Mid-Week Interviews: All interview requests with RMU players and coaches must go through the sports information department. Colonials players are not available on game day prior to the game. To schedule an interview, contact Erik Kaminski at (412) Post Game Interviews: Following a 10-minute cooling off period, visiting players and coaches will be available for interviews followed by Robert Morris players and coaches. Please direct interview requests to Erik Kaminski in the third period. Locker rooms are closed to the media. By NCAA rule, no player interviews will be granted prior to the contest on game day. Pronunciation Guide Dy-anna Stewart Jenny Monteleone Mallory Giambra Kylie Rossler Alissa Dorman Vanessa Zwegers Morgan Beikirch Jacki Gibson Kristen Miles Whitney Pappas Sara O Malley Maria Olausson Samantha Ullrich Jessica Riley Ali Proodian Chelsea Walkland Megan Picinic Kathryn Traynor Jordan Riley Angela Kost Maria Stoa Daneca Butterfield Brianne McLaughlin Nate Handrahan Scott Spencer Blaine Buterbaugh Raffi Wolf CHA Chatter Stewart mon-ta-lee-own-e G-am-bra ROSS-ler DOOR-man ZWEG-ers BYE-kirk GIB-son MILES POP-pas O-Malley OL-loss-son OLL-rich RYE-lee PRUE-dee-an WALK-land PIC-in-nic TRAY-nor RYE-lee COST STOH-ah BUTTER-field ma-glock-lin HAND-Dra-han SPENCE-cer BOOT-ter-bah WOLF Standings CHA Overall W L T Pts. W L T 1 Mercyhurst Niagara Wayne State Robert Morris This Week In the CHA Friday, October 26 St. Cloud State vs. Robert Morris Colgate vs. #3 Mercyhurst Wayne State vs. Cornell Saturday, October 26 Wayne State vs. Cornell Colgate vs. #3 Mercyhurst St. Cloud State vs. Robert Morris Tuesday, October 30 Robert Morris vs. #3 Mercyhurst 3:05 p.m. 4:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. 3:05 p.m. 7:00 p.m.

5 Women s Ice Hockey vs. St. Cloud State Game 6 / 7 Nate Handrahan Head Coach Second Season Niagara 00 Head coach Nate Handrahan enters his second season as leader of the Robert Morris University women s ice hockey team. Taking control of the helm in , Handrahan devised a complete turnaround of the program from its inaugural season in The new Colonials took the community by storm, as the team reinvented many aspects of its game as proved evidenced by their overall record, statistics and their players. Handrahan s guidance and leadership took the team to new heights in its second season of intercollegiate play. The squad more than doubled its record by finishing the season with an mark, compared to the first season s record. The revived offense under Handrahan exploded on the ice, scoring a combined 205 points, an improvement by more than 116 points. The defense proved strong in shutting down opponents, allowing 116 goals compared to the previous years 131. The former Niagara stand out s tutelage of his players was the most evident as the team grew as a whole throughout the season. Several players came to achieve at exceptional levels including the emergence of goaltender Brianne McLaughlin, who developed into one of the premier net-minders in NCAA Division I women s ice hockey. Before taking over the women s ice hockey program, Handrahan, under head coach Derek Schooley, served as an assistant coach with the RMU men s ice hockey team. In his duties, he assisted in the day-to-day operations of the team as well instructing on and off the ice. In his two years with the team, Handrahan helped the program to an mark in its inaugural season and a record in its second season. A 2000 graduate of Niagara University, Handrahan returned to his alma mater as an assistant coach in 2001 under Dave Burkholder. Handrahan s duties included off-ice training, scouting, game film review, and coaching the team s defensemen. Niagara earned an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament in 2004 after winning the College Hockey America Tournament, marking Handrahan s second trip to the NCAA postseason. During his collegiate career, Handrahan played in every game for the Niagara Purple Eagles over four years, leading them to a No. 6 seed in the 2000 NCAA Tournament. The former defenseman, who played under current UMass-Lowell head coach Blaise MacDonald, was a two-time All-ECAC West selection and holds the Niagara record for most consecutive games played (129). Handrahan earned the team s PAW award in and the Unsung Hero Award in the Purple Eagles playoff season of He finished his career with 13 goals and 66 assists for 79 points. Following the season, Handrahan was signed by the Roanoke Express of the East Coast Hockey League, where he played the remainder of the 2000 season and the season. Handrahan and his wife, Nicole, have two daughters, Haylee and Mara and are expecting a third in February. He and his family reside in Aliquippa, Pa. The Handrahan File Alma Mater / Year: Niagara 00 Coaching Experience Assistant Coach Robert Morris University Assistant Coach Niagara University Playing Experience Roanoke Express (USHL), Niagara University (CHA), Playing Accolades Two-time All-ECAC West NCAA Playoff Participant (2000) Unsung Hero Award (2000) PAW Award (1998) Record Holder for Consecutive Games (129) Coaching Staff Scott Spencer Assistant Coach Second Season Minot State 03 Raffi Wolf Assistant Coach Second Season Maine 03 Blaine Buterbaugh Volunteer Assistant Second Season Robert Morris 05

6 TEAM STATS

7 Robert Morris Women's Ice Hockey Robert Morris Overall Team Statistics (as of Oct 24, 2007) All games Overall: Conf: Home: Away: Neut: TEAM STATISTICS RMU OPP SHOT STATISTICS... Goals-Shot attempts Shot pct Goals/Game Shots/Game Assists POWER PLAYS... Goals-Power Plays Conversion Percent Shot Attempts Shot Percent GOAL BREAKDOWN... Total Goals Power Play Short-handed Empty net Penalty Unassisted Overtime Shootout Delayed Penalty PENALTIES... Number Minutes Penalties/Game Pen minutes/game Minor Major minute Misconduct Game Misconduct Gross Misconduct Match SHOOTOUTS (Made-Att) ATTENDANCE... Total Dates/Avg Per Date... 3/288 2/1978 Neutral Site #/Avg... 0/0 GOALS BY PERIOD OT Total Robert Morris Opponents SAVES BY PERIOD OT Total Robert Morris Opponents

8 Robert Morris Women's Ice Hockey Robert Morris Overall Individual Statistics (as of Oct 24, 2007) All games Overall: Conf: Home: Away: Neut: SHOTS PENALTIES GOALS ## Name GP G A Pts Shots Pct +/- No-Min Min Maj Oth PP SH FG GW GTG OT HT PN UA Alissa Dorman Mallory Giambra Jessica Riley Kathryn Traynor Chelsea Walkland Maria Olausson Jordan Riley Maria Stoa Morgan Beikirch Jacki Gibson Angela Kost Kristen Miles Jenny Monteleone Sara O'Malley Whitney Pappas Megan Picinic Ali Proodian Kylie Rossler Samantha Ullrich Vanessa Zwegers Total Opponents GOAL AVERAGE--- --SAVES RECORD GOALS ## Name GP-GS Minutes GA Avg Saves Pct W L T Sho PP SH EN PEN SOG Brianne McLaughlin : TM EMPTY NET 1-0 2: Total :

9 Robert Morris Women's Ice Hockey Robert Morris Category Leaders (as of Oct 24, 2007) All games ## POINTS GP G A Pts Shots ## ASSISTS GP G A Pts Shots Alissa Dorman Jessica Riley Mallory Giambra Alissa Dorman Jessica Riley Mallory Giambra Kathryn Traynor Maria Olausson Chelsea Walkland Jordan Riley Maria Olausson Maria Stoa Jordan Riley Maria Stoa ## SHOTS GP G A Pts Shots Pct ## GOALS GP G A Pts Shots 11 Morgan Beikirch Kristen Miles Alissa Dorman Mallory Giambra Mallory Giambra Kylie Rossler Kathryn Traynor Sara O'Malley Chelsea Walkland Megan Picinic Ali Proodian ## POWER-PLAY GOALS GP PPG 27 Jordan Riley Maria Olausson Mallory Giambra Kathryn Traynor ## SHORT-HANDED GOALS GP SHG ## SHOT PCT GP G A Pts Shots Pct Alissa Dorman ## GAME-WINNING GOALS GP GWG 24 Kathryn Traynor Chelsea Walkland Alissa Dorman Mallory Giambra Megan Picinic ## PLUS/MINUS GP +/- 20 Ali Proodian Jordan Riley Maria Stoa Maria Olausson Whitney Pappas Samantha Ullrich ## PENALTIES GP Pen Min