Pittsburgh, Pa. – The
Robert Morris University women's hockey team won its first series of the 2014-15 season, as the Colonials and Northeastern University skated to a 2-2 tie this afternoon from 84 Lumber Arena.
Robert Morris (3-6-1, 0-0-0 CHA) received standout performances from sophomore forward
Rikki Meilleur and senior goaltender
Courtney Vinet in the draw. For Northeastern (1-2-3, 0-0-0 WHEA), ties have become an early habit as this is its third of the season – all of which coming against College Hockey America (CHA) foes.
Meilleur topped her freshman campaign goal total this afternoon, picking up two tallies for the first multi-goal game of her career. The sophomore has scored in four consecutive weekends and leads the Colonials with five goals on the season.
Two weeks after stopping a career-best 39 shots against Colgate, Vinet topped that mark today with 43 saves.
RMU struck first with Meilleur's first tally midway through the first period, as she slotted home the puck in the middle of a traffic jam. Freshman forward
Katherine Murphy and senior forward
Katie Fergus were credited with the assists.
Meilleur picked up her second goal of the game with 2:15 remaining in the second period. The Colonials worked a patient attack with the Huskies' Hayley Masters serving a checking penalty, eventually finding an opening as Murphy threaded the needle to the sophomore. Fergus picked up the secondary helper once again on the goal.
Masters would redeem herself just 32 seconds into the third period with a snipe from the right faceoff circle that beat Vinet.
Northeastern continued to put on the pressure in the frame, peppering Vinet with shot after shot. Unlike yesterday however, the Huskies would break through as Kendall Coyne scored with an extra attacker on the ice just 16 seconds before the horn was to sound.
RMU came out in the extra period firing, tallying the first four shot attempts. The Colonials would have to spend the second half of overtime on the defensive however, as freshman forward
Jessica Gazzola was booked for tripping with 1:43 remaining.
Vinet didn't let the penalty faze her as she stopped three shots during the penalty kill, while freshman forward
Amanda Pantaleo helped out with a block. RMU would pick up the last scoring chance of the game, but senior defenseman
Erin Staniewski's shot was stopped by Northeastern netminder Chloe Desjardins.
Robert Morris opens up CHA play next on Halloween weekend with a series at upstate rival Mercyhurst. Opening faceoff for the first game between the Colonials and Lakers is set for Friday, October 31 at 7:00 p.m. from Mercyhurst Ice Center.
