Pittsburgh, Pa. - Kimberly Lieder scored with fewer than nine minutes remaining in regulation to break a 2-2 deadlock and help No. 8/10 Bemidji State eke out a 3-2 victory over the Robert Morris University women's hockey team Friday afternoon in non-conference action as part of the RMU Hockey Showcase at Consol Energy Center.

It marked the fourth-consecutive season in which the Colonials' women's program has hosted a game at a local National Hockey League (NHL) arena, and the third such time that the margin of victory was only a single goal.

Freshman Rebecca Vint (Caledon, Ontario / Brampton Junior Thunder) continued her historic freshman campaign by registering a goal and an assist to post her eighth multi-point effort in 16 appearances. The score was Vint's 15th of the season, moving her into a tie for third in single-season school history in goals, and doubled as her 26th point of the campaign. The effort also helped move her into a tie for second nationally in points per game among rookies.

Sophomore Thea Imbrogno (Etobicoke, Ontario / Mississauga Jr. Chiefs) provided the primary assist on Vint's goal to notch her second six-game point streak of the season. The helper was Imbrogno's 20th point of the season and also allowed her to become the ninth player in school history to reach the 30-assist plateau.

Sophomore defensemen Anneline Lauziere (St. Thomas, Ontario / London Jr. Devilettes) opened the scoring for the hosts by tallying her first goal of the season and her first-ever score in a home game.

The Colonials repeatedly sacrificed their bodies to help their cause as they blocked 26 Beaver shot attempts in the game, their second-highest output of the season.  Senior assistant captain Kathryn Stack (Edmonton, Alberta / Edmonton Thunder) and junior Jamie Joslin (Richmond Hill, Ontario / Aurora Panthers) led the way by blocking six and five, respectively.

Coming off of its longest break of the season, having not played in the previous 19 days, Robert Morris was unable to play a sharp first frame as the Beavers struck twice within three minutes to take an early edge. Both Bemidji State goals in the opening 20 minutes came on the power play with the latter occurring 45 seconds into a 5-on-3 Beaver advantage.

Robert Morris would not stay down for long, though, as the Colonials quickly evened the game within the first half of the second stanza.

Vint played a pass along the boards from near her defensive blue line ahead to a charging Cobina Delaney (Stittsville, Ontario / Ottawa Senators). Delaney carried the puck into the offensive third and down into the corner before rifling a pass back to the point that found Lauziere. The defenseman found space above the Beaver netminder's left shoulder to pull RMU within one.

Once the Colonials gathered some momentum, they quickly tied the contest fewer than two minutes later.

Freshman Katie Fergus (Oakville, Ontario / Burlington Jr. Barracudas) sent a neutral-zone pass to Imbrogno who then carried it into the final third. After circling behind the net, the sophomore found Vint on the doorstep, and the rookie took her time in depositing the puck into the net to even the game.

Neither team could pull ahead late in the second, and the teams skated into the locker room tied, 2-2, after 40 minutes of action.

Each side had chances to take the lead in the third, but it was the Beavers that finally broke through when Lieder scored at the 11:36 mark not long after a Beaver faceoff win.

The Colonials desperately searched for the tying goal and fired three shot attempts in the final 70 seconds, but Bemidji State was able to hang on by the slim margin.

Delaney's assist tied her career high for points (14) that she set last season and also made her the 12th Colonial in program history to reach 40 points. The junior also tallied a point in the RMU Hockey Showcase for the third straight season.

Junior Kristen DiCiocco (Niagara Falls, Ontario / Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres) made a game-high 36 saves for RMU and has now posted 71 stops in her past two outings. She has also significantly helped Robert Morris allow just 11 even-strength goals in its first 16 games.

Robert Morris will get another crack at upsetting the Beavers as the two squads will tangle with one another in a New Year's Eve affair. The opening faceoff is set for 5:15 p.m. as the Colonials return to their regular home ice at the RMU Island Sports Center.