BURLINGTON, VT – The RIT women's hockey team (3-2-1) snapped a three-game winless streak by shutting out the University of Vermont (3-2-1), 2-0 at Gutterson Field House on Sunday afternoon.
 
Senior Celeste Brown (Great Falls, MT/National Sports Academy) scored a first period goal for the Tigers, while classmate Kolbee McCrea (Wawa, Ontario/Burlington Barracudas) added an insurance marker in the third period. Fellow senior Ali Binnington (Oakville, Ontario/Mississauga Chiefs) stopped all 27 shots she faced for her second shutout of the season and 16th of her career. It was also her 40th career victory, tying her with former teammate Laura Chamberlain for third most all-time at the university.
 
Vermont out-shot RIT, 27-25. RIT was 0-for-6 with the man-advantage, while Vermont was 0-for-4.
 
"Our coaching staff was very proud of the energy we sustained for the complete 60 minutes today," said RIT head coach Scott McDonald. "Coming off a tough loss yesterday, we responded today with great mental toughness, and played to win when we had the lead instead of being afraid to make a mistake."
 
Brown took a long feed from Jess Paton (Woodstock, Ontario/Waterloo K-W Rangers) and came in all alone on Litchfield and was able to beat the Vermont goaltender with 3:58 left in the first period for her second goal of the season. Emilee Bulleid (Waterdown, Ontario/Stoney Creek Sabres) also assisted on the goal that proved to be the game-winner.
 
Just 3:16 into the third period, McCrea deflected a point shot from Taylor Thurston (Kanata, Ontario/All Saints Catholic) in front past Litchfield for her first goal of the season and 61st of her RIT career. Lindsay Grigg (Oakville, Ontario/Oakville Hornets) also assisted on the goal, winning the faceoff back to Thurston.
 
From there, Binnington did the rest to earn her 16th career shutout, just two shy of the all-time school mark. Her best save came midway through the third period, as she slid across to rob Brittany Zuback of what looked to be a sure goal in close.
 
Vermont thought they had broken through a minute later, on a wrap around attempt that Binnington smothered. The referees went to the video replay and confirmed it was not a goal. Binnington has a 0.81 goals against average and .968 save percentage in five games this year.
 
The Tigers have now allowed just six goals in six games this season, which is the second best goals against average in all of Division I.
 
The Tigers are now 8-2-3 all-time against Vermont. Yesterday, RIT led 1-0 heading into the third period before Vermont responded with two third period goals 3:24 apart to earn the 2-1 win.

RIT is back on the road this weekend, traveling to face Brown University of the ECAC in a pair of games. Friday's contest gets underway at 7 p.m., while Saturday's contest begins at 4 p.m.