Box Score St. Cloud, Minn. - The Robert Morris University women's hockey team carried a lead into the third period but was unable to hang on as St. Cloud State notched a goal in the final frame, and the squads skated to a 2-2 tie Friday evening in non-conference action at the National Hockey Center.
Despite having her six-game goal streak snapped, freshman Rebecca Vint (Caledon, Ontario / Brampton Junior Thunder) kept her point streak intact by tallying the primary assist on RMU's opening goal. Vint, who fired a game-high six shots, has at least one point in each of her first seven collegiate games, a streak which is now the third-longest overall point stretch in school history.
Fellow freshman Taylor Sakundiak (Calgary, Alberta / Edge School) tallied her first-career point with a first-period goal in just her second-collegiate contest after missing the early portion of the season.
Junior Kelsey Thomas (Hamilton, Ontario / Hamilton Hawks) put home Robert Morris' other goal to record a point in three consecutive games for the second time in her career.
The Colonials once again sacrificed their bodies to help their cause as they blocked at least 20 opposition shots for the fifth straight contest and were led by junior Jamie Joslin (Richmond Hill, Ontario / Aurora Panthers) who stopped a game-high four.
Playing at St. Cloud for the first time in over five years, the Colonials may have still been getting their legs underneath them from the long trip northwestward when the Huskies struck to open the scoring as Amanda Arbogast scored fewer than six minutes into the contest.
The opening score may have served as a wake-up call for the Colonials as RMU suddenly began dictating play. Robert Morris took 13 of the game's next 15 shots on net and cashed in about 10 minutes after the opening score. Sakundiak knotted the game at one apiece with Vint and junior Cobina Delaney (Stittsville, Ontario / Ottawa Senators) providing the assists.
Once they evened the game, it did not take long for Robert Morris to move ahead as Thomas struck fewer than four minutes later, scoring with just 49 ticks remaining in the period, to give RMU a 2-1 lead heading into the intermission. Thomas' second goal in three games was assisted by senior assistant captain Brianna Delaney (Stittsville, Ontario / NCCP Raiders) who joined Thomas by tallying a point in her third straight game.
After the teams split the opening four shots of the second stanza, the tide of the game shifted back to the hosts when RMU was called for a penalty. The Huskies did everything they could to even the score, but the Colonial penalty-killing unit was up to the task. Robert Morris won seven of the nine faceoffs during the man-advantage and blocked five shots while junior netminder Kristen DiCiocco (Niagara Falls, Ontario / Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres) made four stops during the power play. St. Cloud continued to look for the tying goal in the second, but RMU maintained its edge after 40 minutes of play.
The first shot of the third period tied the game as Molli Mott scored at the 1:23 mark to even the contest, 2-2. Each team had its chances to move ahead in the closing moments of regulation, but neither squad was able to beat the opposing goaltender again.
The overtime period was full of drama as each side had a power-play chance during the extra time. Robert Morris fired four shots at the Husky cage without allowing a single shot to reach DiCiocco, but it was to no avail as the visitors were unable to win their second overtime game of the season.
DiCiocco made 24 saves for RMU while going the distance in net for the Colonials.
RMU held a slim 27-26 edge in shots and also held a more commanding 36-21 advantage in faceoffs. Brianna Delaney was particularly effective in that department, registering 14 faceoff wins on 20 attempts.
Robert Morris will look to take the series when the squads hit the ice for a rematch Saturday. First puck drop is set for 3:07 p.m. ET.
