Syracuse, N.Y. ? Jan. 10, 2009 ? The Robert Morris University Colonials put up a hard fight against the Syracuse Orange, coming from behind and knotting the game 2-2 early in the second. Throughout the third period and overtime, both squad's defense was relentless, forcing the Colonials and the Orange to settle with a 2-2 draw.

10 seconds after coming off a power-play in the first period, Robert Morris got the early lead when senior Megan Picinic (Cliffside, N.J. / Princeton Tigerlillies) slipped the puck into the left side of the net for her fourth goal of the season off assists from sophomore Kylie Rossler (Regina Saskatchewan / Regina Rebels) and junior Mallory Giambra (Rochester, N.Y. / Rochester Edge) at 11:36.

Syracuse took advantage of a tripping infraction by Rossler and evened up the score two minutes later. Sophomore Cheyenne Bojeski slipped the biscuit into the Colonial net, with freshmen Janelle Malcolm and Lisa Mullan adding the assists.

The Orange took over the lead at 19:20 during a six on four power-play advantage. This time it was Malcolm who scored the goal with an impressive back-handed shot that pushed the puck into the back of the Colonial net.  Junior Gabrielle Beaudry and freshmen Kelly Dimmen were rewarded with the assists.

At the end of the first period, Syracuse outshot the Colonials 10 to eight, with senior goalie Brianne McLaughlin (Sheffield Village, Ohio / Ohio Flames) notching eight saves and Orange goalie Lucy Shoedel tallying seven.

The Colonials were not defeated going into the second period and immediately tied the game up at 1:16 in the period. Senior Kristen Miles (London, Ontario / London Devillettes) picked up a rebound shot made by sophomore Whitney Pappas (Evergreen, Co. / Belle Tire) and tipped the puck into the net to knot the game 2-2. Freshman Kathryn Stack (Edmonton, Alberta / Edmonton Thunder) was also credited with an assist.

Both teams shot an equal nine shots in the third, but were unable to get the puck past McLaughlin or Shoedel, forcing the game into overtime. However, the extra period looked very similar to the third as both teams resilient defense forced the game to end with a 2-2 decision. The tie marks just the second CHA tie for the Colonials since the program's beginning. The last time RMU found itself knotted after overtime in conference play was in 2006 against Niagara.

McLaughlin ended the game with 27 saves and a .931 save percentage, while Schoedel added 23 saves and a .920 saving average.

The Colonials head into to conference action next weekend against Wayne State with a 9-11-2 overall record and a 4-1-1 CHA record. The Colonials and the Warriors will face off on Jan. 16-17 at 7:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m., respectively.