ERIE, Pa. -- Another program record fell, and another domino fell into place for the No. 9 Robert Morris women's hockey team, which inched closer to toppling its College Hockey America (CHA) arch-nemesis for a second straight regular-season conference title.

Brittany Howard, the CHA scoring leader, got back on the scoresheet in another milestone manner, Jaycee Gebhard enjoyed her third multi-goal game of the season and the Colonials (18-7-4, 12-3-3) went south on I-79 after going north with a 3-2 victory over Mercyhurst (14-14-4, 11-4-3) at the Mercyhurst Ice Center Saturday afternoon.

A week after surpassing former teammate Rebecca Vint '15 as the all-time leading goal scorer at Robert Morris, Howard eclipsed another of her marks with her 19th career game-winning goal. Additionally, she set up Gebhard's second score for her 100th career assist, become just the second active NCAA player to reach the century mark.

Her 75 career goals and 175 career goals are also the second-most among current collegians.

At the other end, Elijah Milne-Price made 31 saves to earn RMU a critical series and season series split with the Lakers. Milne-Price leads CHA with 17 wins and a .731 win percentage, leaving the Colonials, once again, one series win away from back-to-back crowns.

"It would be huge. We know it's in our control, and it's up to us now," she said. "We're hoping to go into Syracuse and come out with two wins, and set our own destiny here."

Their offense found a little more open ice against the Mercyhurst defense in another scoreless first period, outshooting the hosts 12-9, and when the Lakers pressed in the second period, getting the Colonials into penalty trouble, this time, they were ready.

The Robert Morris penalty kill rediscovered its recent form, staving off four chances in that period alone. With their 5-for-5 finish, the Colonials are 90.0% (36-for-40) on the PK since Jan. 19, the best rate in the conference and tenth-best in Division I over that span.

"The biggest difference for us today was on special teams, between PP and PK," Milne-Price said. "We looked solid all day on the penalty kill, and we had a huge couple kills late in the second period."

Special teams protected a one-goal lead for RMU and would later add to it as well. Howard flicked the puck behind her in the neutral zone to Gebhard, who flew down the right wing, unfettered, and snuck a close-range shot through the five-hole of Kennedy Blair for her 11th of the season 5:47 into the middle frame.

Kirsten Welsh, who entered Friday leading all active Colonials with 12 career points (5 G, 7 A) versus the Lakers, earned the secondary assist. Dating back to last year's CHA title run, the Colonials are unbeaten in 18 of the last 20 games in which the junior defender registers a point.

With 8:36 to go until the second ice cut, the sizzling sophomore would score in transition again--an abrupt transition, at that. Not long after a nice save by Milne-Price, Gebhard forced a Lakers turnover in their own zone, came in from the right again and beat Blair on the short side for a 2-0 Robert Morris lead.

"Hopefully, she can just keep on doing what she's doing, because she's been awesome," the senior netminder said of Gebhard, who now has eight goals over her past eight games.

The Plenty, Saskatchewan prodigy has already taken sole possession of seventh place on her school's all-time goal-scoring list, with 34.

Mercyhurst cut the lead in half early in the third period, but the RMU power play promptly gave the traveling Colonial Crazies a serious case of déjà vu. Maggie LaGue calmly found Howard, whose slap shot from the right circle blew past Blair for the all-important answer with 16:09 left in regulation.

It was the 20th career power-play marker for Howard, making her the third in team history to amass that many. She remains inside the NCAA top ten in goals (tied for eighth) and points (ninth), and with 43 points, including a career-high 21 goals, as a redshirt senior, seems to have a second consecutive CHA scoring title safely in tow. 

"It's something special," Milne-Price said. "Every time she steps on the ice, she has a chance to create something, and do something that other players just can't do."

LaGue, meanwhile, matched a career high of her own with her 20th helper of the year, and set a new one with her 23rd point. Her 59 career assists remain the most by an RMU defender.

With her and Welsh's apples, the Colonials retain the number one scoring defensive unit in D-I, with 89 points (25 G, 64 A).

No. 9 Robert Morris visits the aforementioned Orange Feb. 23-24 to conclude its 2017-18 regular season. Opening faceoff from Tennity Ice Pavilion in Syracuse, New York is set for 7:00 p.m. next Friday and 3:00 p.m. next Saturday.

On Wednesday, Howard will be celebrated at the 82nd annual Dapper Dan Dinner & Sports Auction at 6:00 p.m. at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center downtown as the 2017 Dapper Dan Sportswoman of the Year, officially becoming the first student-athlete in RMU history to be named a Dapper Dan Sportsperson of the Year.

This marks the first time two hockey players have been concurrently named Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year since Dapper Dan began naming a Sportswoman of the Year for the 1999 calendar year. Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby is this year's male recipient.

Robert Morris alumnus and Pittsburgh Steelers vice president and general manager Kevin Colbert, recipient of this year's Dr. Freddie Fu Sports Leadership Award, will be recognized as well.

Call 412-263-3850 or visit post-gazette.com/dapperdan18 for additional event information, or to buy tickets. 

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