Venters Stands Tall, Lyttleton Scores Two as No. 14 Pitt Takes Down No. 10 RIT, 5-2

Fletcher Lyttleton (8) celebrates her first period goal for the Pitt Panthers during a game at the RMU Island Sports Complex Sunday morning. -- (Ed Major / PHC)

NEVILLE Twp., Pa. — In a top-15 matchup at the RMU Island Sports Center, the No. 14 Pitt Panthers defeated the No. 10 Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Tigers by a score of 5-2 Sunday morning. 

An early third-period power play goal by Hannah Ziperstein proved to be the game-winner, stretching the Panthers’ lead to 3-0 in a game that had all the makings of a tight, low-scoring battle.

Despite a slow offensive start, Panthers goaltender Ella Venters stood strong between the pipes in the first period, turning away each RIT opportunity to keep the game scoreless into the first intermission.  The Tigers controlled the puck for much of the period and generated sustained pressure in the Panthers’ zone, but the Pitt defense — anchored by venters — held firm.

Ironically, it was also that same defense that sparked their offense.

Less than five minutes into the second period, junior defender Cady Melvin broke the deadlock when she rifled a shot from beyond the faceoff dot that found its way into the back of the net.  Just three minutes later, fellow defender Fletcher Lyttleton doubled the advantage, giving Pitt a 2-0 cushion. 

With no ice cut between the periods, momentum carried into the third as Pitt kept its foot on the gas with Ziperstein’s power play goal.

The Tigers responded quickly as Abigail Owens got RIT on the board halfway through the period, though Audrey Monro-Neely answered just a few minutes later and restored Pitt’s three-goal advantage to 4-1.

RIT refused to go away quietly, though.  With less than three minutes to play, Abigail Shaull trimmed the lead to two once again in an effort to spark some late hope.  After using a timeout and pulling goaltender Abbigale Giampaola for an extra attacker, the Tigers pressed for another. 

Instead, Venters turned aside several high-danger chances late in the third to prevent RIT from building further momentum.  Lyttleton then added her second goal of the game — an empty netter with less than a minute to play — to seal the 5-2 win for the Panthers.

The win moves the Panthers to fourth place in the College Hockey East, behind Niagara, Mercyhurst, and West Virginia.

The College Hockey East playoffs will be in Morgantown, West Virginia February 28 through March 1 at the new Hope Gas Ice Pavilion at Mylan Park.  The top four teams will meet and face off in two semifinal games February 28, with the winners playing for the championship on March 1.