Pittsburgh, Pa. – The
Robert Morris University women's hockey team used a three-goal second period to earn a College Hockey America (CHA) series split with in-state rival Mercyhurst University, 3-2, this afternoon from 84 Lumber Arena.
Robert Morris (9-15-3, 6-6-2 CHA) moves into sole possession of third place in the CHA standings with the victory and a Syracuse loss. The Colonials trail first-place Mercyhurst (18-7-3, 9-4-1 CHA) by five points with six games remaining in the regular season.
For the second straight day, the Colonials and Lakers played a scoreless opening frame despite both teams having their chances. Mercyhurst generated the first dangerous scoring opportunity as Megan Whiddon forced a turnover in her offensive zone, but sophomore goaltender
Jessica Dodds made a pad save.
One minute later it was the senior duo of
Rebecca Vint and
Maddie Collias threatening to dent the scoreboard. Collias threw a good centering feed across the crease to a waiting Vint, but the captain pushed it wide on the one-timer attempt.
Next it was sophomore forward
Mackenzie Johnston who would put the pressure on the Lakers, as she stole the puck in the offensive zone but was denied by Mercyhurst goaltender Amanda Makela.
Johnston would redeem herself 1:42 into the middle stanza as she skated in front of Laker pass and took it end-to-end before lofting a backhanded shot over Makela's shoulder. The unassisted goal was her team-leading 10th of the season.
RMU doubled its lead midway through the second period on a five-on-three power play. The Colonials patiently broke down the undermanned Mercyhurst defense with a pass from defensemen
Mikaela Lowater to
Megan Eady across the point. Eady then found Collias positioned on the right side of the crease, and the senior assistant captain redirected the feed for her third goal of the season.
Three minutes later the Colonials made it 3-0 as freshman forward
Jessica Gazzola used her backhand to loft the puck just underneath the crossbar off an initial shot attempt from sophomore forward
Rikki Meilleur.
Gazzola's goal gave RMU the 10th goal in its last three middle frames. The Colonials outshot the Lakers in the period, 12-4, and held a 32-17 edge in attempts.
Mercyhurst began its comeback attempt with a power play tally six minutes into the closing stanza as J'nai Mahadeo beat Dodds with a wrist shot late in the man advantage. The visitors added a second goal with an extra attacker on the ice as Jenna Dingeldein one-timed a pass from Sarah Robello at the 18:11 mark of the frame.
The Lakers appeared to have an opportunity for the tying goal late in the period when Collias' attempt from the defensive blue line went just wide of an empty net, appearing to settle for an icing call. However, senior forward
Katie Fergus rushed down the ice and reached the puck first, keeping possession in the RMU offensive zone.
Dodds stopped 20 of 22 shots to earn the victory in her 50th career appearance.
The Colonials blocked 23 shots on the afternoon, with Lowater and junior
Leah Carlson each collecting a team-high four.
Mercyhurst pulled Makela after the second period, marking the third time since last season that RMU has chased off the Lakers starting goaltender.
Robert Morris is back in action next weekend as it travels to Syracuse. The opening game of the series will take place on Friday, Feb. 6 at 7:00 p.m. from Tennity Ice Pavilion.
