ROCHESTER, NY – The RIT women's hockey team (2-2-0) exploded for a season-high six goals in a 6-0 win over the University of Vermont (0-2-1) in front of 1,161 fans at Ritter Arena on Friday evening. RIT is celebrating its annual Brick City Homecoming and Family Weekend.

#Kourtney Kunichika (Fullerton, CA/LA Selects) scored a pair of goals to lead the way offensively for the Tigers. (Brantford, Ontario/Assumption Collegiate)Jess Paton (Woodstock, Ontario/Waterloo K-W Rangers) and Kolbee McCrea (Wawa, Ontario/Burlington Barracudas)# added a goal and an assist apiece, while #Morgan Scoyne (Drumbo, Ontario/Stoney Creek Sabres) recorded two helpers. (Brantford, Ontario/Assumption Collegiate)Celeste Brown (Great Falls, MT/National Sports Academy) and Brittany St. James (Orono, Ontario/St. Stephen Catholic)# also scored for the Tigers. St. James' goal was the first of her collegiate career.

RIT goaltender #Ali Binnington (Oakville, Ontario/Mississauga Chiefs)# was sharp in net, turning aside 33 shots for her second victory of the season and ninth shutout of her career. She made 24 saves over the final two periods, including 14 shots on six Vermont power-play attempts.

Vermont out-shot RIT, 33-31. In goal, Vermont's Roxanne Douville started, stopping eight shots in the first period before being replaced by Madison Litchfield. Litchfield stopped 17 shots over the final two periods.

RIT was 2-for-5 with the man-advantage, while holding Vermont scoreless on six chances.

"I thought we were excellent in all facets tonight, from Ali (Binnington) in goal, to our defense, who did a great job in the transition game, to our forwards, who were able to finish well tonight," said RIT Head Coach Scott McDonald. "Our team speed was evident all evening. We need to keep this effort up tomorrow."

RIT opened a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes of play. The game got off to an inauspicious start, as both teams had a potential goal overturned by replay. Moments in, Brown looked to have Douville beat, but it was ruled that the puck went off the post and across the goal line without crossing. A few minutes later, Andreakos put in a rebound of a shot from Casey Leveillee, but it was ruled that she kicked the puck in.

RIT grabbed the 1-0 lead at the 12:36 mark of the period, on the power-play, as Brown hammered a shot from the slot past Douville for her second goal of the season. #Morgan Scoyne (Drumbo, Ontario/Stoney Creek Sabres) carried the puck behind the net and centered a pass that glanced off of (Brantford, Ontario/Assumption Collegiate)Cassie Clayton (Pickering, Ontario/PEAC School)# in front right to Brown in the high slot. Her hard low shot went between the legs of Douville for the tally.

With 28 seconds left in the period, Kunichika scooped up a loose puck at the RIT blue-line and while Vermont was making a chance, fired up the right wing with #Katie Hubert (Burlington, Ontario/Burlington Barracudas)# on a 2-on-1. Using Hubert as a decoy, Kunichika faked a pass over and then whistled a wrist shot from the right side over Douville for her team-best third goal of the season.

Seconds later, Binnington was called upon to make a huge save on Andreakos on a partial breakaway right before the end of the period.

The Tigers pulled away in the middle stanza, scoring three times to take a commanding 5-0 lead after 40 minutes of play.

Just 43 seconds in, St. James beat Litchfield with a wraparound for her first collegiate tally. Scoyne put a pass behind the net to #Kolbee McCrea (Wawa, Ontario/Burlington Barracudas)#, who cycled to St. James. St. James wheeled in front and beat Litchfield between the legs.

At the 7:41 mark, Paton the was the beneficiary of hard work in front of the Vermont net, as #Marissa Maugeri (Ajax, Ontario/Durham West Lightning) and Erin Zach (Elmira, Ontario/Cambridge Fury)# battled for a loose puck in front. The puck squirted to Paton, who slid it past an out of position Litchfield for the 4-0 lead.

Kuncihika made it 5-0 with RIT's second power-play goal of the contest at the 10:42 mark, as her shot from the left side snuck past Litchfield. Paton and #Lindsay Grigg (Oakville, Ontario/Oakville Hornets)# assisted on the goal.

McCrea completed the scoring with 8:13 left, tapping home a loose puck in front after #Dakota Waites (Whitby, Ontario/Sinclair)# won a face-off forward.

RIT is 7-0-3 all-time against the Catamounts, having last played them on Jan. 28, 2001, a 1-1 tie at Ritter Arena.

The two teams complete their season series on Saturday at 3 p.m.