Erie, Pa. – The Robert Morris University women's hockey team fended off a weekend sweep by College Hockey America rival Mercyhurst, as both teams picked up a point toward the league standings following a 4-4 tie in overtime Saturday afternoon.
 
The Colonials (9-6-3, 3-3-2) narrowly missed handing the Lakers (8-7-3, 6-0-2) their first conference loss of the season.
 
Four different Colonials, including three freshmen, scored a goal for RMU. Sophomore Amanda Pantaleo struck first in the opening period on one of Robert Morris' two power-play goals on the day. Freshman Amber Rennie netted one in the second, her team-leading 10^th goal of the season, to tie the game, 2-2. Freshmen Kirsten Welsh and fellow rookie Sarah Quaranta were credited with the game-tying and go-ahead goals, respectively, in the third period. Welsh and junior Rikki Meilleur both recorded multi-point efforts, as Welsh paired her goal with an assist and Meilleur dished out two helpers.
 
Mercyhurst entered the third period with a 3-2 lead over RMU, and looked dominant early in the frame. The Colonials, however, displayed their grit and will to win and applied relentless pressure on the Lakers' defense. Welsh netted the equalizer on a power-play slapshot from the blue line at the 8:25 mark in the third.
 
Backed by some key saves made by junior goaltender Jessica Dodds to keep the Colonials in the game, RMU continued to lay it on and Quaranta poked in a teammates' rebound in front of the net to give Robert Morris its first lead of the game, 4-3, with 9:22 to go in the third.
 
The Robert Morris penalty kill unit held Mercyhurt scoreless on the man advantage until the Lakers converted on their final power-play opportunity of the game to tie it up, 4-4. Just nine seconds into the special teams situation, Mercyhurst's Megan Whiddon scored her second goal of the game, which would eventually send the game into overtime.
 
The Colonials' power play went 2-for-4 on the night, but failed to convert on a late opportunity. RMU managed to take just two shots in the overtime period, none during the power play, but Mercyhurst also struggled to convert any of its three shots taken in the extra period.
 
Before the holiday break, Robert Morris will play one more CHA series on the road at Lindenwood on Saturday, Dec. 12 at 2 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 13 at noon.
 
 
Leading the Way
Redshirt sophomore Brittany Howard's assist in today's game increased her season point total to a team-leading 22 (8-14-22) and extended her current point streak to three games.
 
Squad Goals
The Colonials have scored three or more goals in three of their last four games.
 
Power Up
RMU has scored a season-best two power-play goals in six games this season, including today's tie at Mercyhurst.
 
 
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