Pittsburgh, Pa. – Nine different individual members of the Robert Morris University women's hockey team contributed a point in the Colonials' 3-2 overtime victory over College Hockey America opponent Lindenwood Saturday afternoon to complete the series sweep on Skate for the Cure weekend in 84 Lumber Arena.
 
With two CHA wins this weekend, the Colonials (14-9-5, 6-4-4) extended their advantage over the Lions (6-18-4, 3-7-4) in the CHA standings, and are now just two points behind second-place Syracuse and four shy of their next opponent, Mercyhurst.
 
Sophomore forward Amanda Pantaleo scored the game-winning overtime goal to help the Colonials to victory. Senior Ashley Vesci and freshman Kirsten Welsh assisted on the goal.  Following a career-high three-point performance in last night's 5-2 win, junior Maeve Garvey extended her point streak to two games with a goal early in today's contest. Junior Mikaela Lowater recorded her 11^th goal of the season on a first period power-play chance.
 

With the score knotted at two goals apiece, RMU escaped a dangerous situation when a penalty was called against the Colonials with 2:44 remaining in the third period. Lindenwood called timeout and returned to the ice with a game-winning strategy in mind, only to get one shot on goal during the man-advantage. Robert Morris fired one final shot before the regulation clock ran out.
 
Robert Morris gained possession of the puck early in the overtime period and kept it in the Colonials offensive zone long enough to sustain pressure on Lindenwood goaltender Nicole Hensley. When Pantaleo got a hold of the puck, she charged the net and continued to swat at the puck until she got it past Hensley's pads.
 
At the conclusion of the first period, RMU entered the locker room with major momentum and a  2-0 lead on back-to-back power-play goals, but Lindenwood returned to the ice with something to prove.
 
The Lions started to create quality shots in the second frame and got two to go in their favor, as the visitors responded to the Colonials hot start with two consecutive goals of their own.
 
A Lindenwood shot bounced off the post and right onto the stick of Kaitlyn Davidson who snuck one past junior goaltender Jessica Dodds to put the Lions on the board. On their fourth power-play chance of the day, LU's special teams stepped up and set up a wide open one-timer that sailed past Dodds and tied the game at two goals each. The Lions led the Colonials in shots on goal in the second period by a lopsided 21-8 margin.
 
The Colonials and the Lions both remained persistent with the puck throughout the first, and traded penalties back and forth, which created multiple power-play chances for both squads in the first 20 minutes. While Lindenwood went 0-for-2 in the opening period, Robert Morris went 2-for-4 and amassed a large lead heading into locker room.
 
Following a career-high three point performance in last evening's win, Garvey kicked off the scoring in this afternoon's game with a power-play goal to put the home team ahead, 1-0. Thirty-six seconds after the goal, Lindenwood's Ally Larson was charged with a two-minute minor for holding. Lowater buried a shot into a wide open corner of the net on the ensuing power play with 29 seconds to go in the first period as the Colonials headed into the first break with extraordinary energy.
 
Robert Morris remains at home next weekend when they host league leader and conference foe Mercyhurst on Friday, Feb. 5 at 7:05 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 6 at 3:05 p.m.

 

 
Power Up
The Colonials snapped a four-game skid without a power-play goal in last night's win and put together their 10^th multiple power-play goal effort on the season with two power-play tallies in today's victory.
 
Solid Series
Five Colonials posted one point or more in both games of this weekend's series sweep of Lindenwood: Maeve Garvey (3-1-4), Mackenzie Johnston (1-1-2), Katherine Murphy (0-2-2), Sarah Quaranta (1-1-2) and Kirsten Welsh (1-1-2).
 
Moving On Up
With a power-play assist in today's game, redshirt sophomore Brittany Howard increased her career point total to 74. She is one point shy of tying Kristen Miles (2005-08) and  Kelsey Thomas (2009-12) for fifth place in all-time career points at Robert Morris.
 
 
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