PITTSBURGH -- For a second consecutive series opener, the Robert Morris women's hockey team worked relentlessly to get back into a game against a formidable non-conference foe, and this time, its work did not go in vain.

The Colonials (6-6-3, 4-1-1) earned a 4-4 tie with Minnesota State (4-5-2, 2-5-1) at the RMU Island Sports Center Friday night, scoring three times in the third period to climb out of a 4-1 hole.

RMU is now unbeaten in seven of its past eight games, and it extended its unbeaten run in overtime games to 16 straight contests (5-0-11), which dates back to Oct. 22, 2016.

Meanwhile, it has also earned at least a point in six of its past ten meetings with Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) opponents.

Sophomore defender Emily Curlett drifted toward the right point and elevated an off-balance shot past rookie goaltender Abigail Levy from just inside the blue line for her second goal of the season with 8:58 remaining in the third.

Lexi Templeman, another of last year's All-College Hockey America Rookie Team honorees, set up the strike for her 11th assist of 2018-19, briefly tying junior assistant captain Jaycee Gebhard for the team lead. Rookie blue-liner Wasyn Rice picked up the secondary apple for her first official point as a collegian.

Less than a minute later, Rebekah Kolstad took a cross-checking call. The Robert Morris power play, which had previously struggled to find answers for Levy, finally found the back of the MSU net with 7:02 to play.

Senior defender and tri-captain Maggie LaGue, riding an unprecedented three-game goal streak entering the series, snapped the puck on target from roughly the same spot as Curlett. It beat both traffic and Levy for her career-best fourth goal of the year.

The Robert Morris defensive corps, tied for tops in the nation in combined points by a defensive unit in 2017-18, had willed the Colonials back into the game, and they would also prove instrumental in extending it after head coach Paul Colontino pulled senior goalie Lauren Bailey with 1:27 left in regulation.

Gebhard, working near the right corner, drew attention away from Kirsten Welsh at the opposite side. She backhanded a pass to the senior defender and tri-captain, who easily buried a one-timer from close range to tie the game with :20.9 showing on the clock.

Dating back to the 2016-17 season, the Colonials are unbeaten in 26 of 31 games in which Welsh has registered a point.

RMU enjoyed another 5-on-4 advantage with 2:33 left in the sudden-victory period when she drew a tripping call in her own zone. The tables were turned, however, when LaGue was caught for interference 50 seconds later.

The Colonials had to bear down defensively with 51 seconds left in the game, as a holding call against Natalie Marcuzzi turned the 4-on-3 for Minnesota State into a 5-on-3. They held their own, with Gebhard, the NCAA leader in faceoff wins (210), controlling two key draws, and Bailey covering a loose puck in the final seconds to preserve the result.

Marcuzzi got Robert Morris on the board with her fourth of the year at 18:45 of the first, thanks to a cross-ice feed from Gebhard.

Gebhard kept pace with Loren Gabel of Clarkson for a share of third place in Division I scoring. Both players have an identical nine goals and 13 assists on the year entering Saturday.

She now has a point in eight consecutive games, the longest such run since her nationally acclaimed 2016-17 rookie season.

Brooke Bryant scored twice for the Mavericks, as did Corbin Boyd, who hit a crossbar in the waning moments of overtime.

The Colonials begin their rematch with Minnesota State at 1:05 p.m. ET Saturday. Admission is free, and the game can be seen live on the CHA Digital Network (subscription required).

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