Pittsburgh, Pa. –
Robert Morris University women's hockey senior captain
Rebecca Vint toppled the program's career point record as the Colonials tied Syracuse University in College Hockey America (CHA) play this evening from 84 Lumber Arena.
Robert Morris (4-9-2, 1-3-1 CHA) and Syracuse (3-6-6, 2-1-2 CHA) continued the theme of their series history as the draw pushes the all-time record between the two teams to 9-9-7.
Vint's primary assist on a Colonial second period goal gives her 123 points for her career, surpassing the mark set by
Thea Imbrogno (2010-14) last season at 122. The veteran forward also holds the program's career goal mark with 64.
The Orange struck first three and a half minutes into the game. Stephanie Grossi took advantage of a turnover in the RMU defensive zone and beat sophomore goaltender
Jessica Dodds on the one-on-one opportunity.
Less than two minutes later the Colonials would respond. Sophomore forward
Rikki Meilleur called for the puck as she found an opening in front of the crease. Fellow sophomore
Mackenzie Johnston would feed Meilleur the biscuit and she would capitalize, lighting the lamp for her team-leading sixth goal of the season. Freshman forward
Katherine Murphy was credited with the secondary assist.
Johnston would score one of her own in the second period to give RMU the lead. Vint carried the puck down the left side on a two-on-one opportunity, looking for an opening. The captain would fake a shot, catching the Syracuse defenseman off-balance enough to dish it to the sophomore forward, who then buried it for her second goal of the season. Junior forward
Anissa Gamble earned the secondary assist on the play.
It took just a minute for the Orange to respond. Dodds made a big save from point blank range on a Syracuse attack, but the rebound trickled to Melissa Piacentini for the tying goal.
Both teams had their chances in the remaining minutes, with the best of them coming as time expired in overtime. Vint returned to the ice in the extra frame following a penalty, but a pass to her was too early to set up a game-winning breakaway attempt with seconds remaining.
Dodds made 30 saves on the evening, with 22 of them coming in the second and third periods.
This was the Colonials' third consecutive overtime game, tying a school record. The last time RMU had went to extra time in three straight contests was in 2008-09 when it closed out the season with two overtime tilts against Niagara and a heartbreaking loss to Wayne State in the CHA semifinals.
Robert Morris looks to take the all-time series lead tomorrow afternoon against Syracuse. Opening faceoff between the Colonials and Orange is set for 3:05 p.m. from 84 Lumber Arena.
