By LIAM HOFFMANN
This is what Celeste Brown imagined when she came back to RIT in 2020 to become the Tigers’ women’s hockey head coach.
The last time RIT beat a ranked opponent was Feb. 15, 2014. Then a senior forward, Brown scored a first-period power play goal that led the Tigers to a 1-0 win over the No. 9 Robert Morris Colonials. That is, the last time until Saturday when the Tigers downed the No. 7 Colgate Raiders 4-2 – under Brown’s leadership.
“I was taken back to this group of seniors and fifth-years who played Colgate their first year and got destroyed, quite honestly,” Brown said.
Current Tigers seniors forward Kylie Aquaro, defensewoman Bronwyn Khangsar and goalie Sarah Coe made their collegiate debuts on Sept. 19, 2021 in RIT’s season-opening 6-3 loss to Mercyhurst. Their next two games were back-to-back losses to Colgate by a combined margin of 21-1. That season was Brown’s first full campaign at the helm after a COVID-19-shortened 2020-21. The first-year Tigers didn’t win their first collegiate contest until Feb. 12 against Lindenwood – in the season’s 29th game.
On Saturday, Aquaro scored RIT’s first goal, Khangsar nailed the game-winner and Coe made 28 saves in net en route to the victory over Colgate. Aquaro leads the team in points (3+3). Coe is 3-0 and leads the team in goalie minutes played, goals-against average (1.66) and save percentage (.929).
“We had a tough go at [Colgate] freshman and sophomore year and this win is absolutely huge for us,” Aquaro said. “For our confidence, especially going into homecoming, going into league games and stuff like that.”
Monday, Coe was named AHA Goaltender of the Week for her performance. Also, RIT first-year forward Brac Kelley earned AHA Rookie of the Week for a three-point performance that included her first collegiate goal.
Three third-period goals lifted the Tigers over the Raiders. Khangsar scored the decider off a dump from Kelley with six minutes left. Kelley’s goal earlier in the frame gave RIT their first lead of the contest. Sophomore forward Addie Alvarez made the late empty-netter for the Tigers.
RIT has won four of their first six games for the first time since transitioning to Division I prior to the 2012-2013 season.
“Each year the plan is to get better, to build, to continue to stack our bricks and understanding that there’s patience through that trial,” Brown said. “We’re still learning how to play every day and play at the level we expect ourselves to play at. We still have new players who are a big piece of this puzzle and so our whole team along with us as a staff are working to help build their confidence, help get them in situations to make them better so that they can add to our success.”
The Tigers have two more opponents in line before beginning AHA play. The RPI Engineers are visiting this Thursday and Friday at 6 p.m. amidst RIT Brick City Homecoming. Then, the No. 8 St. Lawrence Saints come to Gene Polisseni Center on Oct. 25 and 26.
“We’re really excited to play RPI this weekend…that’s where our brain is then we’ll move on to the next one,” Brown said. “Once we get in league play we all have a goal in mind. But, that goal doesn’t get accomplished unless you accomplish what you need to – that step right in front of you.”
Tigers in-conference play kicks off at home against the Robert Morris Colonials on Nov. 1 and 2. RIT received the fourth most votes (16) – behind Robert Morris (22) – in the 2024-25 AHA Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
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