Women's Hockey | 9/18/2017 7:56:00 PM
MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – The Robert Morris University women's hockey team named senior forward Amanda Pantaleo its captain for the 2017-18 season Monday. Redshirt senior forward Brittany Howard and senior defenseman Katherine Murphy were named alternate captains by head coach Paul Colontino.
Pantaleo, a 5'5" Markham, Ontario native, proved herself to be a clutch player for the Colonials while serving as an alternate last season, finishing the regular campaign with 18 points on 11 goals, three of which were game-winners, and seven assists. Her third GW came in a 2-0 shutout of visiting Penn State Feb. 18, 2017 that gave Robert Morris 20 victories in a single season for just the second time in program history.
In addition, she set up the Mar. 3 goal by Jessica Gazzola against Lindenwood that put RMU in its second College Hockey America Championship game all-time. Pantaleo, who scored the school's lone shorthanded marker in 2016-17 and led the team with a 19.6 shooting percentage, begins her captaincy with 33 career points (21 goals, 12 assists) in 108 collegiate games.
Murphy, a 5'3" product of the North American Hockey Academy, also finished her junior season with 18 points (1 G, 17 A). She registered 11 of those points in CHA play while manning the blue line for the Colonials, who allowed just two goals during the five-game winning streak that propelled them to their first-ever NCAA Tournament berth.
Born in Cary, North Carolina, making her the first Robert Morris women's player to come from that state, Murphy was second on the team with a plus-15 rating, ended as the team co-leader in blocked shots with 60 and assisted on four power play goals. She enters the season with 44 points (4 G, 40 A) in 106 games as a collegian.
Howard, a first-line fixture and another of last year's assistant captains, will likely wear the "A" just as well in '17-'18, having already established herself as an RMU legend. The 5'4" superstar from St. Thomas, Ontario was named CHA Player of the Year for 2016-17, pacing the conference champ Colonials with a career-high 50 points, finishing 10th in the NCAA points race, while also ranking second in the conference with 20 goals. She also notched a personal- and program-best 30 assists prior to earning a CHA All-Tournament Team nod.
The three-time All-CHA Team selection and erstwhile All-CHA Rookie Team honoree also finished second in the nation with eight power play goals and shared the Division I lead in power play points (19) with linemate Jaycee Gebhard. Howard became the first active Colonial to be drafted into the National Women's Hockey League (NWHL) Aug. 18, getting taken tenth overall by the Buffalo Beauts, who dressed four former members of Robert Morris's women's program during their recent run to the Isobel Cup title.
With 132 lifetime points (54 G, 78 A) in 107 college games, she needs just three more to become the all-time leading scorer in program history.
The Colonials host Ryerson this Saturday night for a 7:05 exhibition game, their lone preseason contest, in Colonials Arena at the RMU Island Sports Center.
Fans can call 412-397-4949 or visit rmutickets.com for tickets. Student admission is free via Freedom Card, with $5.00 tickets available to university faculty and staff.
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