Box Score

Pittsburgh, Pa. – Freshman forward Mackenzie Johnston (Barrie, Ontario / Etobicoke Dolphins) picked up her first career goal with 47 seconds left, pushing the Robert Morris University women's hockey team to a 3-2 victory over CHA opponent Lindenwood this evening.

Robert Morris (10-3-0, 4-1-0 CHA) earned their third straight win over the Lions (0-11-2, 0-2-1 CHA) – a mark that dates to last season's CHA Quarterfinals.

Freshman goaltender Jessica Dodds (London, Ontario / London Jr. Devilettes) faced a steady Lindenwood attack in the first period, but got through it unscathed as she made 10 saves. The Lions' best scoring opportunity came on a two-on-one advantage, but Dodds stood tall and blocked the shot.

RMU came out firing in the second period, as they outshot Lindenwood, 16-6. The Colonials would get on the board 2:38 into the middle frame when senior assistant captain Brandi Pollock (Virden, Manitoba / Westman Wildcats) fired a shot from a step in front of the blue line off passes from freshman defenseman Mikaela Lowater (Thornhill, Ontario / Mississauga Jr. Chiefs) and sophomore forward Anissa Gamble (Fredericton, New Brunswick / Burlington Jr. Barracudas). The goal was Pollock's first of the season.

The Lions answered with a power play goal at the six minute mark. With Johnston serving her second penalty of the contest, Carrie Atkinson gathered a pass from Alyssa West and fired a shot that grazed off of Dodds' padding and carried into the net.

The Colonials almost took back the lead a couple of times later in the period. With a little more than seven minutes left, senior assistant captain Thea Imbrogno (Etobicoke, Ontario / Mississauga Jr. Chiefs) found herself one-on-one with a Lindenwood defenseman. The forward made a spin move to catch her off-balance, and lofted a backhanded shot that was pushed away by Lions goaltender Nicole Hensley. Johnston immediately gathered the rebound and rifled a shot, but it went wide.

RMU finally did get back in front at the 4:34 mark of the third period. Freshman forward Maeve Garvey (Oakville, Ontario / Burlington Jr. Barracudas) passed it up to Pollock, who then found senior captain Kristen Richards (Toronto, Ontario / Niagara University) skating down the right side of the ice. Richards corralled the pass and fired a shot top-shelf over Hensley's shoulder to pick up her fourth goal of the season.

Lindenwood answered less than three minutes later after Lyndsay Kirkham forced a turnover in the Lions' offensive zone. Kirkham found an open Jocelyn Slattery on the left side of the crease, and Slattery lofted it over Dodds' arm to tie it.

A fourth overtime in the teams' last three meetings looked to be on the horizon, but Johnston had other plans. With 47 seconds remaining, junior forward Rebecca Vint (Caldeon, Ontario / Brampton Junior Thunder) gathered the puck at the blue line from Lowater and found her freshman linemate skating open down the right side of the ice. Johnston took it herself on the two-on-one opportunity and rewarded her teammates with a backhander that trickled past Hensley.

Lindenwood called a timeout to set up strategy after the face-off, but the Colonial defense held strong by only allowing one shot in the final seconds.

With 22 saves, Dodds stays undefeated with her eighth win of the campaign. Six of the 13 goals the freshman goaltender has allowed this season have come on the power play.

RMU will look to sweep the Lions at 3:05 p.m. tomorrow afternoon from 84 Lumber Arena.