PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The Penn State women's hockey team led after the first period but ultimately fell to the Robert Morris Colonials 5-2 Friday evening at Colonials Arena.
The Nittany Lions (3-5-3, 0-1-0 CHA) scored twice after giving up the initial goal and took a one-goal lead into the first break, but the Colonials (3-5-1, 1-0-0 CHA) rallied back with four unanswered to take the win.
Penn State's goals came from Brooke Madsen and Rachel Weiss. Weiss also added an assist while fellow freshman Mallory Uihlein tacked on two assists.
Cam Leonard started in goal for Penn State and made 26 saves, tying her career high set last Friday, Oct. 25, against Boston.
Editor's note: It was determined after a scoring changed assessed Nov. 2 that Natalie Heising had an assist in place of Mallory Uihlein. Heising had one helper while Uihlein had one as well.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Robert Morris got the scoring started early in the first period after a Nittany Lion penalty assessed to Abby Welch at 5:55 in the period. The Colonials needed just a little over a minute for Emily Curlett to find the back of the net on her shot.
The power-play goal was her NCAA-leading sixth of the season and put RMU in front at 7:06.
Penn State found its footing shortly after thanks to a power play of its own after a tripping call put the Colonials shorthanded at 12:09. The Nittany Lions needed just 18 seconds on the advantage to tie the game thanks to Madsen's score just in between the circles. Assists were awarded to Uihlein and Weiss.
The Nittany Lions did not stop there Weiss put in the go-ahead goal 1:42 later. Her goal from the left circle was confirmed after an officials' review and put Penn State ahead 2-1 at the 14:09 mark in the first with a second assist given to Uihlein.
The second period ended up being all Colonials, as RMU fired back with three goals to take a 4-2 lead. Their first was an even-strength marker for Mackenzie Krasowski at 9:15, quickly followed by Courtney Kollman's go-ahead score at 11:33.
RMU added another on the power play at 17:50 off the stick of Emilie Harley to take its two-goal advantage into the second break.
The Colonials tacked on its last goal at 10:51 in the third period on a score from Michaela Boyle to bring the score to the final 5-2 mark.
GAME NOTES
- RMU had a 31-22 advantage in shots on goal for the game and a slight 32-28 edge in the face-off circle. The Nittany Lions blocked 27 shots, led by Jessica Adolfsson and Amy Dobson with four each.
- Penn State went 1-for-5 on the power play while the Colonials converted 2-of-3 advantages.
- Madsen has scored four goals in the last five games and has five points over that span. With six points on the season, Madsen has moved into fourth place on the program all-time scoring list with 58 points. She led the Nittany Lions with six shots on goal for the night.
- Both Weiss (1G, 1A) and Uihelin (2A) recorded their first career multi-point games for the Nittany Lions. They also combined for eight shots and four blocked shots.
- The Nittany Lions take on the Colonials tomorrow at 3:05 for the weekend finale.