PITTSBURGH -- A defensive corps that has registered points seemingly at will continued to help the Robert Morris women's hockey team pile them up in the College Hockey America (CHA) standings, as the Colonials tied Penn State for the third time this season, 2-2, at the RMU Island Sports Center Friday night.

Kirsten Welsh, for the second time in three games and the third time in her illustrious career, scored twice for Robert Morris (14-6-4, 8-2-3), which moved into a first-place tie with the result after Mercyhurst bowed to Syracuse.

The third-year defender from Blackstock, Ontario, already the leading scorer among defenders in Colonials history with 69 points (27 G, 42 A), tied former teammate Mikaela Lowater '17 for the most single-season goals by an RMU blue-liner with her 11th of the year.

Robert Morris is unbeaten in 15 of the past 17 games in which she has registered a point.

Welsh blasted a shot from the high slot area with the Colonials enjoying a 4-on-3 advantage to match the mark and put her team up 2-0 with 4:35 left in the second period. The Robert Morris power play has converted on seven of its last 21 chances (33.3%).

With 4:28 gone by in the first, Welsh uncorked one from the right point just after a PSU penalty expired to open the scoring. It was a big lift for a Robert Morris squad playing without injured points leader Brittany Howard, a team now unbeaten in 14 games (10-0-4) when it has scored first.

"It was definitely different, but I think we're just as good without her as we are with her," Welsh said. "We just have to kind of fill that hole and work off each other. She's our star player, no doubt...but I think we picked it up and played with each other. When everyone works together, I think we're just as good."

Aneta Ledlova, now with four points (G, 3 A) over her last three games, was responsible for feeding Welsh.

Howard's absence certainly seemed to galvanize the Colonials defensively. They blocked 27 shots, and Maggie LaGue matched their single-game high on the season by blocking eight. The previous high was the seven she blocked in an earlier meeting with the Nittany Lions Oct. 29.

In addition, LaGue helped kill a penalty for the first 1:23 of overtime, and she picked up her 54th career assist on Welsh's second goal, still a program-high for a defender. The Robert Morris defense has now amassed 23 goals and 77 points this season, making it now the second-highest scoring D-corps in the NCAA.

LaGue now has five points (2 G, 3 A) over her past three contests.

Lexi Templeman also assisted on that tally to temporarily grab the CHA rookie scoring lead from another member of that high-scoring unit, conference rookie-of-the-week Emily Curlett, until Natalie Heising found the net from an angle on the left side with 4:25 left to extend the game for Penn State (6-11-9, 3-5-5). But RMU, now unbeaten in 12 straight sudden-death appearances (4-0-8) dating back to the middle of last season, hung tough.

Welsh, who leads the Colonials with four goals against the Nittany Lions in their season series, now shares the CHA lead in power play goals with Heising with five apiece.

Fellow defender Natalie Fraser nearly joined the offensive party early in the second period, but her goal was disallowed for goaltender interference after video review.

Robert Morris concludes the series Saturday at 3:05 p.m., its annual Skate for the Cure game. The team will hold its annual Teddy Bear Toss, where fans are encouraged to bring new stuffed animals, with tags still intact, to throw on the ice when the Colonials score their first goal of the game.

They will be collected and donated to UPMC Children's Hospital, while a concurrent cash fundraiser will benefit Our Clubhouse, a non-profit organization providing support to those affected by cancer.

Call 412-397-4949 or visit rmutickets.com for tickets.

Follow the Colonials: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram