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Women's Hockey Hosts No. 10 Robert Morris in Season-Opening Series
10/19/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Ice Hockey
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Brown women's hockey team will open its 2017-18 campaign and host No. 10 Robert Morris in a non-conference series on Friday, Oct. 20 and Saturday, Oct. 21 at Meehan Auditorium. Friday's contest will begin at 6:00 p.m. while Saturday's puck drop is set for 1:00 p.m. Both games will be broadcast on the Ivy League Network.
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vs. Robert Morris (Fri.): Live Stats | Video
vs. Robert Morris (Sat.): Live Stats | Video
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Complete Game Notes (PDF)
SCOUTING THE COLONIALS
Robert Morris has opened the 2017-18 season with a 3-1-0 overall record and is ranked 10th in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll while also receiving votes in the USCHO.com Poll. The Colonials open the year with 10-straight road games, winning their first three (2-1 OT at Minnesota State, 6-2 at Minnesota State, 2-1 at Maine) before suffering their lone loss of the season at Maine 5-2 in their most recent game on Saturday, Oct. 14. Brittany Howard leads the team in scoring with eight points, on six goals and two assists. Jaycee Gebhard carries the squads assist lead with six on the season. All three goalies on Robert Morris' roster have seen action so far this year. Elijah Milne-Rice and Lauren Bailey have each played in two games, with Milne-Price recording a 0.99 goals-against average and a .950 save percentage while Bailey put together a 2.69 GAA and a .878 save percentage.
BROWN TALKING POINTS
Under the guidance of third-year head coach and former men's ice hockey standout, Bob Kenneally '90, the Bears will look to continue where they left off at the conclusion of last season and make a jump in the highly competitive ECAC in 2017-18.
The Bears boasts 16 underclassmen and an experienced junior and senior class that is comprised of 10 student-athletes, including 2017 Connecticut Whale CWHL selection, senior Sam Donovan. Donovan has led the Bears in goals three-straight years, and led the 2016-17 squad in goals (9), assists (12) and points (21) while playing in all 29 games. Additionally, on the offensive side, 93-percent of the scoring attack returns for the Bears. Sophomore Sena Hanson had a strong rookie campaign with five goals and 12 assists for 17 points, ranking second on the team in scoring. Her 12 assists tied Donovan for the team lead.
Defensively, Brown returns six core blue liners, including junior Leah Olson, who scored 11 points (4G, 7A) to lead all defenders and rank fourth on the team in scoring last season.
In goal, senior Julianne Landry and sophomore Calla Isaac return between the pipes while freshman Lauren Rippy joins the group of netminders.
The Bears will host 13 games in Meehan Auditorium, and play in 16 road contests. A total of eight games will be played against NCAA qualifying teams, in series versus Robert Morris, St. Lawrence, Cornell and defending NCAA Champion Clarkson.
THE SERIES VS. ROBERT MORRIS
Series Record: Brown trails, 0-3-0
Current Streak: L3
First Meeting: Nov 23, 2007 (at Brown, L, 4-2)
Last Brown Win: n/a
Last RMU Win: Dec. 31, 2016 (at RMU, 5-3)
Last Tie: n/a
LAST SEASON VS. ROBERT MORRIS
Brown fell in the series at Robert Morris last season to close out 2016 with a 5-1 loss on December 30 and a 5-3 defeat on December 31. Sophomore Sena Hanson scored the lone goal in game one while sophomore Sarah Migliori and juniors Leah Olson and Cara Najjar scored in the near upset of the ninth-ranked Colonials in game two.
THE CAPTAINS
Senior Cynthia Kyin will suit up as the lone captain on the 2017-18 squad while senior Sam Donovan and juniors Bridget Carey and Abby Niewchas will join her as assistant captains.
DOUBLE TAKE
The Bears have two sets of twins on the 2017-18 roster in seniors Katie and Samantha Swanstrom and sophomores Alley and Steph Rempe. The Swanstrom twins are both forwards and have combined for 12 goals, 17 assists and 29 points in their careers, with Samantha leading the way with nine goals, 15 assists and 24 points. For the Rempe twins, Alley is a forward and Steph is a defender. Alley recorded three goals, six assists and nine points in her rookie campaign that was cut short due to injury, while Steph added one goal from the blueline.
NEW FACES
The Bears welcome seven incoming freshmen for the 2017-18 season as part of the class of 2021. The rookies include: forward Kaitijane Blumberg (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.), forward Megan Forrest (Enfield, Nova Scotia), defender Maddie Fouts (Rye, N.Y.), forward Darby Melia (Marshfield, Mass.), defender Abby Nearis (Beverly, Mass.), goalie Lauren Rippy (Plymouth, Mich.) and forward Maddie Sisokin (Oakville, Ontario).
NEXT UP
Brown will hit the road for the first time this season and compete in ECAC games at Union on Friday, Oct. 27 and at Rensselaer on Saturday, Oct. 28. Both contests will begin at 3:00 p.m.
