ROCHESTER, NY – The RIT women's hockey team (7-12-3, 1-6-1 CHA) opened up play in the 2015 calendar year by falling to visiting Robert Morris (6-11-3, 3-4-2 CHA) by a score of 2-0 at the Gene Polisseni Center on Friday afternoon.

Rebecca Vint scored a first period goal, while Mackenzie Johnston added an empty netter in the final minute to lead the Colonials. In net, Jessica Dodds stopped all 34 shots she faced, including 18 in the third period for the shutout. She was named the game's first star.

RIT peppered the Robert Morris net in the third period, firing 18 shots, but was unable to get the tying goal. The Tigers had countless good chances from point-blank range, including six from the Cassie Clayton (Pickering, Ontario/PEAC School), Jess Paton (Woodstock, Ontario/Waterloo K-W Rangers), and Celeste Brown (Great Falls, MT/National Sports Academy) line.

RIT goaltender Ali Binnington (Oakville, Ontario/Mississauga Chiefs), making her first start since Nov. 15 after missing the last seven games due to injury, was strong in net, stopping 28 of 29 Colonials shots to earn the game's second star. She robbed Vint, the game's third star, three times in front during the third period to keep it a 1-0 game.

Overall, RIT out-shot Robert Morris, 34-30. The Tigers were 0-for-3 with the man-advantage, but managed 10 shots on those opportunities.  RIT held Robert Morris scoreless on four power-play attempts.

"I thought we were rusty, weren't connecting passes, and looked a step slow," said RIT head coach Scott McDonald. "No excuses for us, we need to be better and our complete level needs to improve tomorrow."

Robert Morris scored the lone goal of a quickly played first period with 3:17 left, as Vint took a feed from Maeve Garvey in front and roofed a backhander over the shoulder of Binnington for her fourth goal of the season.

Both defenses were stout over the opening 20 minutes, allowing few excellent scoring chances, as the shots were 8-7 RIT.

Binnington was excellent in the second period, stopping all 12 Colonials shots, including a handful from in tight to keep the score 1-0 after 40 minutes of play. Her best three saves of the period came from in front of the net, as she robbed Anissa Gamble from the doorstep, then made two great saves on Mackenzie Johnston in front.

RIT's best chance of the period came on a 2-on-1 break, as Darcy Henderson (Burlington, Ontario/Burlington Barracudas) made a great pass to Caitlin Wallace (Brantford, Ontario/Assumption Collegiate) in the slot. Wallace fired a good, hard, low shot that Dodds was able to turn aside.

The all-time series between the two schools is now even at 6-6-1. The Tigers eliminated Robert Morris from the postseason in 2013-14 with a 4-1 win in the CHA Semifinals. The two teams will also meet on Feb. 13-14 at Robert Morris.

RIT and Robert Morris conclude the weekend series on Saturday at 3:05 p.m. also from the Gene Polisseni Center.