PITTSBURGH -- After Friday's late fireworks, Saturday afternoon's series finale with No. 10 Colgate took on a different complexion, with the
Robert Morris women's hockey team relying upon its depleted defense and rookie goaltender to earn a 2-2 tie at the RMU Island Sports Center.
Despite playing without junior
Sarah Lecavalier and rookie
Gillian Thompson due to injuries, the Colonials (6-6-2, 4-1-1) contained one of the nation's top ten offenses to get their first result against a top-ten opponent since last season's 3-3 draw with the Raiders (7-4-1, 3-1-0) in Hamilton, New York Dec. 9, 2017.
This marked the 21st time in program history that Robert Morris earned at least a point against a nationally ranked team.
Arielle DeSmet, making her second career start in goal, and first in nearly a month, picked up where she left off in the third period of the series opener. Her season-high 27 saves kept RMU in the hunt, and the Charlotte, Vermont native finished the weekend with a 1.44 goals-against average and .941 save percentage.
It was another North American Hockey Academy product who brought Robert Morris even after Delani MacKay set up twin sister Eleri MacKay for the go-ahead goal 52 seconds into the third period. Senior tri-captain
Maggie LaGue let go of a shot from the right point that squeezed through the pads of Julia Vandyk and just over the line with 16:16 left in regulation.
The defender from Barre, Vermont suddenly has a goal in three straight games, having matched her career single-season high with her first even-strength marker since her Jan. 20, 2018 overtime winner at RIT.
Sophomore blue-liner
Emily Curlett assisted on the equalizer, with junior assistant captain
Jaycee Gebhard picking up the secondary helper. Although Gebhard's career-high six-game goal streak came to an end Saturday, she now has a point in seven straight outings, her longest run since Jan. 13-Feb. 10, 2018.
The Plenty, Saskatchewan native and Notre Dame Hounds standout tied
Lexi Templeman for the team lead with her tenth apple of the year. Gebhard, now with 19 points, also moved into a third-place tie with Loren Gabel of Clarkson in the NCAA scoring race, just two points out of the top spot.
In addition, she controlled ten of 18 faceoffs and continues to lead Division I in total faceoff wins, with 192.
Fellow junior
Natalie Marcuzzi went 10-4 from the dot, and she got Robert Morris on the board with her third goal of the season. The two-time College Hockey America Student-Athlete of the Year settled down a bouncing puck from
Caitlyn Sadowy, shifted her weight and snapped off a shot from just beyond the left circle that snuck past Vandyk 2:18 into the second period.
Senior defender
Kirsten Welsh, who, along with Curlett, blocked a team-high four shots, got the other assist. Dating back to the 2016-17 season, RMU is unbeaten in 25 of the past 30 games in which the tri-captain has registered a point.
The Colonials had some good looks at Vandyk early in the game, but Colgate drew first blood when Malia Schneider beat DeSmet with a backhander with 7:34 left in the first period.
For the Raiders, their best chance to tip the scales came during a third-period barrage with just over 11 minutes to play. DeSmet made a great glove save and benefited from a hit crossbar that withstood video review.
Gebhard had the best chance in overtime for RMU, barreling through the right wing circle with a clear path to the net in the final minute, but Vandyk was able to cut down her angle for an easy save.
Robert Morris, now unbeaten in six of its last seven games, continues non-conference play at home against Minnesota State Nov. 16-17. The opening faceoffs from Colonials Arena are scheduled for 6:05 p.m. and 1:05 p.m. ET next Friday and Saturday, respectively.
Fans can call 412-397-4949 or visit
rmucolonials.com for ticket information.
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