State College, Pa. – For the first time this season, the Robert Morris University women's hockey team dropped its third straight with a disappointing 3-2 overtime loss to College Hockey America opponent Penn State at Pegula Ice Arena Friday evening.
 
Despite the loss, the Colonials (12-9-4, 4-4-3) remain ahead of the Nittany Lions (7-14-4, 3-4-4) in the CHA standings heading into tomorrow's rematch.
 
Redshirt sophomore Brittany Howard and junior Mikaela Lowater scored for the Colonials. Freshman Sarah Quaranta registered a multi-point performance, her fourth of the season, with assists on both goals. Fellow rookie Maggie LaGue tallied an assist on the Lowater goal that broke open the game.
 
The Colonials took complete control of the third period and dug themselves out of a 2-0 deficit with back-to-back goals late in the frame. Lowater put Robert Morris on the board with a tough angle shot that went past Penn State's Celine Whitlinger, who was solid for the majority of the evening for the Nittany Lions, and the Colonials cut the PSU lead to one with 7:06 remaining in the third.
 
Minutes later, Howard netted the equalizer on her team-leading 12^th goal of the season and the Colonials defense did their part to hold off the Nittany Lions long enough to extend the game into overtime. Robert Morris edged Penn State in shots during the final 20 minutes of regulation, 14-5.
 
Robert Morris held the edge heading into overtime, but Penn State remained patient  in its pursuit of the game-winning goal. The Nittany Lions put just two shots on goal in overtime, and sophomore defenseman Bella Sutton snuck one past junior goaltender Jessica Dodds at 3:12 to end the game. RMU was unable to create a shot during the extra minutes of action.
 
Both teams earned a power-play chance in the second period, but could not convert. Penn State, however, capitalized on a difficult shot that Dodds struggled to get a handle on and senior forward Hannah Bramm earned her second goal of the game to increase the home team lead to two goals with 6:49 remaining in the frame. The Colonials managed to put three shots on goal during their man advantage, but went scoreless for the fifth straight period, dating back to a shutout loss at No. 4 Quinnipiac.
 
It was a back-and-forth first period, during which both teams struggled to find an offensive rhythm. A few good scoring opportunities arose on both ends of the ice, but the Nittany Lions were the first to cash in on a 2-on-1 situation that led to Bramm's first goal of the night to put the home team up early, 1-0.
 
RMU remained aggressive throughout the game and outshout PSU, 35-26. The Colonials successfully killed off their season-low one penalty of the evening.
 
The conference foes face off again Saturday, Jan. 23 at 2 p.m. at Pegula Ice Arena.
 
 
Moving On Up
Redshirt sophomore Brittany Howard's goal increases her career point total to 73. She is now two points shy of tying Kristen Miles (2005-08) and Kelsey Thomas (2009-12) for fifth place in all-time career points at Robert Morris.
 
 
Unfamiliar Territory
This is the first time in series history that Robert Morris dropped consecutive meetings to CHA opponent Penn State. It is also the first time the Colonials lost to the Nittany Lions on PSU's home ice.
 
 
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