Pittsburgh, Pa. – Despite a career-high 47-save performance by sophomore goaltender
Jessica Dodds, the
Robert Morris University women's hockey team fell to College Hockey America (CHA) foe Mercyhurst University in overtime, 2-1, this evening from 84 Lumber Arena.
This is the second time that the Robert Morris (8-15-3, 5-6-2 CHA) and Mercyhurst (18-6-3, 9-3-1 CHA) rivalry has needed an extra frame to decide it, with a 4-4 tie on Feb. 18, 2012 being the first instance.
Dodds passed her previous career-best of 44 saves from exactly two weeks ago against No. 4 Quinnipiac.
Despite the Lakers holding a slight 11-9 edge in shots during the first period, the Colonials might have had the more dangerous chances. The hosts opened the stanza with a shot from junior assistant captain
Ashley Vesci drawing iron, while a slap shot from senior assistant captain
Katelyn Scott found pipe late on a power play.
RMU's best opportunity in the first 20 minutes came on the penalty kill, as senior captain
Rebecca Vint found herself alone on a short-handed breakaway. Mercyhurst netminder Amanda Makela stood tall to make a save however, while Vint drew a checking penalty from Jenna Dingeldein after the play to end the Lakers' power play.
Vint made up for missed chance early in the second period, scoring her seventh goal of the season to give the Colonials an early lead. Sophomore defenseman
Mikaela Lowater ripped a shot from the point that hit a RMU player, with the deflection trickling to freshman forward
Jessica Gazzola. Gazzola then slid the puck to the senior captain on the doorstep, and she buried the chance with a poke through Makela's five-hole four and a half minutes into the frame.
Lowater's secondary assist on the goal gave her 14 for the season, breaking the program's single-season record for a defenseman of 13 set by Jamie Joslin (2012-13) and
Anneline Lauziere (2013-14).
That lead wouldn't last long as Mercyhurst drew penalties on sophomore
Mackenzie Johnston and senior
Kelsey Gunn within 20 seconds of each other. The Lakers capitalized on the five-on-three advantage courtesy of a Dingeldein tally at the 5:57 mark of the stanza.
The Colonials were five seconds away from having Gunn return to the ice, but the refs booked Vint for checking to give Mercyhurst another full power play. RMU would kill off the ensuing man advantage, thanks in part to Dodds making one of her best saves of the night as she slid across the crease to stone Emily Janiga on a rebound attempt.
Late in the stanza, the Colonials had another prime opportunity with Vint and fellow senior
Maddie Collias skating together on a two-on-one breakaway. The captain fed Collias with a nifty pass across the slot, but her wrist shot was gloved by Makela.
Both teams had their chances in the third period, but the Keystone State rivals remained deadlocked at one following 60 minutes.
In overtime, the Lakers picked up their fifth power play just 24 seconds into the frame as senior
Katie Fergus was whistled for slashing. The visitors took advantage of the call as Janiga slotted home a rebound with 19 seconds remaining on the man advantage to win it.
Lowater collected a team-high five of RMU's 23 blocks on the evening.
Robert Morris will look to rebound tomorrow afternoon as it caps off its six-game homestand at 3:05 p.m. against Mercyhurst.
