When the Robert Morris University women’s hockey team begins their 2012 home slate on Friday, January 20 they will be facing a familiar College Hockey America (CHA) foe in Mercyhurst, who is currently ranked 5th in the nation.
The Colonials began the new year with a split at Providence the weekend of January 6, so having the past weekend off has given the team time to get ready.
“We’re really using this time to prepare for Mercyhurst next week,” said junior forward, Cobina Delaney. “We have to focus on ourselves and continue doing the things that have brought us success during the first part of our season.”
Head Coach, Paul Colontino, who coached at Mercyhurst prior to coming to RMU, is stressing that this is just another game and the the team needs to be ready for the test.
“One of the things we talk about is it doesn’t matter where we’re playing, or who we’re playing, we’re trying to play the style of hockey that Robert Morris is becoming accustomed to,” he said. “We work hard, we never give up, and we care about the little things.”
While he is insisting that the team looks at it as just another game, he recognizes that it’s an important game, and an important two points for his team.
“I mean between going up to Mercyhurst and them coming here, it’s obviously a big game,” he added. “You’ve got a very highly ranked opponent that has had a very good past. They’re a very skilled and talented team so we want to make sure we’ve got all of our i’s dotted and t’s crossed so we’re ready and we just bring forth our best game.”
To be ready the team has been working on the little things with hopes of showing how good of a team they are.
“We are working on our systems and puck movement a lot,” said freshman, Becca Vint. “I think this is a great opportunity, yet again, to prove ourselves and how much we have improved and how well we work together as a team.”
Despite Mercyhurst being a strong team, the Colonials realize four important points are up for grabs this weekend.
“We know that there are conference points on the line against a strong team,” Delaney said. “Since Coach Paul coached at Mercyhurst last year we have even more to prove against them this year.”
