ORONO, Maine -- Finding itself in another series-opening defensive struggle, the No. 10 Robert Morris women's hockey team got another healthy dose of leadership from its designated leadership group, and "EJ" got another hard-earned victory.

Senior left wing Amanda Pantaleo potted her first goal since being anointed the Colonials' new captain to break a scoreless tie in the third period, and RMU (3-0-0), with her in the box for the final half-minute, had her back on the back end to preserve a 2-1 win over Maine at Alfond Arena Friday night.

Pantaleo, just 1:11 into the final frame, camped out on the right side of the net, watched Carly Jackson deny Maggie LaGue on a wraparound try then smashed in the rebound with the UMO netminder leaning the wrong way to give Robert Morris a lead it would not relinquish.

Senior goaltender Elijah Milne-Price made 15 critical saves and RMU, the nation's No. 11 team in penalty-killing percentage entering this weekend, went 4-for-4 on the PK to snap a three-game winning streak by the Black Bears (3-2-0). The Colonials, now 11-for-12 in penalty kills on the young season, also improved to 11-4-1 all-time against Maine and 19-5-6 against Hockey East schools altogether under College Hockey America (CHA) Coach of the Year Paul Colontino.

His team was not without chances to break the game open through its first two periods, but Jackson was determined to cancel out her counterpart with a commendable 15-save effort of her own. The Black Bears supported her by blocking nine shots to RMU's 11.

Following one of the Colonials' successful PKs, a pair of big saves on Emily Curlett and Brittany Howard, with Natalie Marcuzzi hitting a post in between, highlighted a second period full of end-to-end action in which they out-shot Maine 7-6. Howard and her teammates, however, would get revenge.

Shortly after a disallowed goal, Robert Morris was redeemed when Howard, flying down the left side, got her own initial shot back, faded to her right and waited for the right moment to lift the puck over a prone Jackson for her second game-winning goal in three outings at 10:50. She now has 14 of those on her illustrious career.

Maine cut its deficit in half with 6:21 to go in regulation when Catherine Tufts jammed a puck through the legs of Milne-Price just after a UMO power play had expired. It pulled Jackson in the final minute and nearly saw the Colonials score a fortuitous empty-netter on a puck struck all the way back from inside the RMU blue line. Instead, Robert Morris had to sweat out a 4-on-4 when Pantaleo and Vendula Pribylova were sent off for simultaneous roughing minors.

Milne-Price passed one final test, swallowing a long-range blast by Brooke Stacey, and her defense gobbled up one last shot attempt before clearing its zone as time expired.

Robert Morris will square off with Maine once more on Saturday at Alfond Arena at 1:00 p.m.

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