PITTSBURGH - Freshman forward Brittany Howard had a goal and two assists to lead the Robert Morris Colonials past Vermont 6-4 Saturday afternoon in non-conference action at 84 Lumber Arena.
Robert Morris opened the scoring just 1:28 into the first period. Katelyn Scott picked up her first goal of the season to give the Colonials the early lead. Scott's goal marked the sixth time this season Robert Morris has scored first, they have won all six contests.
The Catamounts quickly rebounded after Scott's tally. Amanda Pelkey scored her team leading sixth goal of the season 47 seconds later to even things up. Brittany Zuback and Victoria Andreakos assisted on the goal.
At the 4:49 mark Klara Myren gave Vermont its first lead of the weekend series with a power play tally. Rachael Ade picked up her first career point on Myren's first goal of the season.
Down for the first time in the weekend the Colonials responded in the second half of the first frame. Robert Morris tied the score at two with their own power play tally from Thea Imbrogno at the 11:19 mark and Rebecca Vint put the Colonials back in front with 3:07 left in the period.
Sophomore forward Anissa Gamble picked up her first career goal 6:24 into the second period to stretch the Colonials lead to two goals. Ashley Vesci picked up her second point of the season with the lone assist.
Late in the second period the Catamounts went to the power play after Kristen Richards was called for checking at the 14:53 mark. Delia McNally scored her first goal of the season on the ensuing power play to pull the Catamounts within one.
However the Colonials answered right back, Howard scored the game-winning goal with 1:47 left in the second period to build the Robert Morris lead back to two heading into the third period.
With 5:01 remaining in the game the Catamounts were again able to cut the Colonials lead in half with a power play tally. Gina Repaci picked up her third point of the night with her second goal of the season to make it 5-4.
The Colonials once again had a response though as Gamble picked up her second goal of the night with 1:55 left in the third period to put the game out of reach.
Robert Morris goaltender Jessica Dodds picked up her fifth win of the season making 14 saves. Madison Litchfield made 19 saves in third career start for the Catamounts.
"It's very disappointing that we can't get all the pieces of our game together at the same time," said head coach Jim Plumer. "It's a team game it's all of our responsibility to step up and fix it. The effort is there but inconsistent execution is consistently costing us games."
Vermont wraps up its seven-game road trip next weekend as they begin Hockey East play. On Friday afternoon the Catamounts face Connecticut before traveling to Boston University on Saturday.
NOTES: Vermont was a perfect three-for-three on the power play this afternoon ... Gina Repaci and Rachael Ade each set career best single game totals with three points ... Amanda Pelkey's goal pushed it to four straight games with points for the junior, she now has eight points in the last four games.