The women’s hockey team moved to an unbeaten record of 5-0-1 as they picked up two gritty wins over Robert Morris in the RMU Island Sports Center. The Colonials, ranked 58 out of 58, were hoping to start their inaugural season off with a win for their first home game by taking the lead in the second period. The Rensselaer women, however, took it to them and scored two goals in the third period to take the win. The next day saw the RPI women score three in the second to win convincingly and make the trip down to Moon Township, Pa., worthwhile.
Weekend standout freshman Emily Donowick scored three goals for the Engineers and was praised by coach and teammates alike. “She capitalized on all her chances and was able to pick the corners well,” described senior forward Kari Rabatin who is on Donowick’s line. “She played very well,” complimented Head Coach John Burke. “She used her speed … her linemates played well.”
Both nights saw scoreless first periods, which Rabatin attributes to the fact that “we ran them down, we used that [tough play] to our advantage.” She continued that, “We didn’t play to our full potential.” She said of the first periods, “We picked it up after that.”
Playing against a new team in a new town meant that it took some getting used to the referees, “They played big and tough … the refs let us play with our body,” explained Rabatin. “The refs let a lot more go on down there than up here.”
After several weekend hockey “doubleheaders,” the team feels that the second game is easier because they know what they’re going at. The effects of the short rest are lessened from the extensive conditioning completed by the players. Goalie Rosina Schiff and forward Allison Malcolm, both seniors, feel as though they have barely left the training room this week. Schiff, who tweaked her MCL in a game against Colgate, is expected to make her return this weekend. Filling in for Schiff against Robert Morris were freshmen Emily Ford and Ashley Mayr. “They did play very well this weekend. They controlled the rebounds and didn’t give many second chances” said Burke of the goalies.
Although Robert Morris is a new team filled with freshmen, the women were not expecting the Colonials to lie down in front of them. Noted by both the players and Burke was that bottom-ranked Robert Morris went up to Maine, a perennial powerhouse, and played tough.
After Friday night’s scoreless first period, Kristin Miles put the Colonials in the lead. This was unmatched until early in the third, when freshman Nicole McDonald got ahold of the puck during a messy play in front of Robert Morris goalie Brianne McLaughlin. Victory came on Donowick’s goal midway through the third period with seniors Julie Welte and Rabatin on the assists.
Saturday got off to a similarly slow start. The first goal was on a power play by Welte with assists by junior Sarah Daniel and freshman Mel Guillemette. Donowick scored next with 5:13 left in the second on a power play goal from a pass by Welte. Donowick scored again with only two seconds left in the period, assisted by Daniel. Although the Colonials out-shot Rensselaer 8-3 and scored a goal with 43 seconds left in the third period, it was no match for the strong defensive core, who were again commended by Burke.
At the Houston Field House this weekend, the women will have their work cut out for themselves as they take on a blazing hot McGill team that upset Dartmouth last weekend, the night after they put up a great fight against top-ranked St. Lawrence. RPI has never played them, to which Burke added, “We’ll have our hands full.”
