This past weekend former Colonial Brianne McLaughlin was honored at the Island Sports Center with a banner celebrating her achievements not only at Robert Morris, but in the Olympics as well.
McLaughlin, a four-year starter at the goaltender position, had a solid career at RMU, which included an NCAA record for saves with 3,809. During her playing days, she was a four-time College Hockey America award winner, and a national defensive player of the week three times.
Although McLaughlin’s achievements are special, it is even more sensational that she was able to accomplish everything while studying nursing as well.
“Brianne set the NCAA’s record for saves while studying nursing at Robert Morris, one of our most demanding programs for the time it requires in clinical training,” explains RMU President, Gregory Dell’Omo. “In short, Brianne was a scholar-athlete in the truest sense of the word, and a role model for students, faculty and staff.”
During her speech McLaughlin brought up a moment during her recruiting trip back in 2004 that she will probably never forget.
“I was taking a tour on campus, and we were in the Sewall Center looking down at the basketball team, and somehow my mom and I slipped away from the group,” explains McLaughlin. “She said to me I love this place, I love the campus, and the people are so nice here. It’s a brand new program and you’ll have an opportunity to leave something behind.”
After that McLaughlin laughed and added “I didn’t expect to have my face plastered down at the Island, but this is great. When Marty does something he really tries makes it special, and all of you guys are here making it special.”
The banner was filled with two photos taken while she was playing, one in her USA jersey and one in her RMU jersey. In the middle was a photograph, taken by Alissa Dorman, of her in a team USA t-shirt with her silver medal from the 2010 Olympics and her gold medal from the World Championships this past year.
Dorman, a friend and former teammate of McLaughlin, is happy to have been a part of the banner.
“I am so happy to be a part of it” explains Dorman. “I couldn’t think of a better way to honor her and all of her accomplishments. She is so unassuming and is easy to photograph!”
