STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - The Robert Morris University women's hockey team erased a 2-0 first-period deficit to earn a 2-2 draw Saturday afternoon against Penn State, pushing their overall record to 16-9-3 (10-3-1 CHA).
Emily Curlett became the all-time program leader in goals by a defenseman, burying her 35th career tally to open the scoring for RMU. Michaela Boyle also recorded a goal, while Arielle DeSmet stopped 28 of 30 shots in goal.
Despite another great first few shifts from the Colonials, a flukey bounce off an unlucky play put them in an early hole Saturday afternoon in Hockey Valley.
Some good pressure from the line of Michaela Boyle, Natalie Marcuzzi, and Courtney Kollman had RMU buzzing off the opening drop, and it looked like another early lead would soon follow.
Unfortunately it was the Nittany Lions who struck first just 2:10 into the game when an Abby Welch centering pass from behind the net caromed in off the back of DeSmet's pad and over the goal line to put PSU ahead 1-0.
Lifted by the luck bounce, Penn State continued to forecheck hard, clogging up the neutral zone and preventing the Colonial attack from gaining the blue line with speed.
A number of RMU turnovers turned into scoring chances the other way, with DeSmet forced to make big stops on Mallory Uihlein and Katie McMillian in quick succession to keep the gap from widening.
Hemming Robert Morris inside their own zone for much of the first, PSU doubled their lead at 11:36 after Natalie Heising finished off a beautiful feed from Shea Nelson in the slot that beat DeSmet to make it 2-0.
RMU searched for an answer as the second opened up, throwing more rubber at PSU keeper Chantel Burke in an effort to chip away at the PSU lead.
Despite their decisive edge in the first, Penn State continued its Friday trend of taking costly penalties Saturday afternoon. A pair of minors in quick succession gave RMU an extended 5-on-3 for 1:03, and it didn't take the deadly RMU man-advantage long to make them pay.
After a nice keep by Gebhard along the half-wall, Curlett dialed up a one-timer from the point, wiring one low-blocker past Burke to cut the PSU lead in half. The goal moved her past Kirsten Welsh '19 for most ever by an RMU blueliner.
Suddenly it was the Colonials controlling play and dictating the game, earning some good zone time and working the puck off the cycle to generate scoring chances. A scramble for a puck in front of the PSU net nearly tired it up as both Boyle and Lexi Templeman swatted away at Burke's pads, but somehow it stayed out as PSU continued to weather the storm.
Another big save by Burke on Gebhard on the door step with under a minute remaining in the second helped PSU hang on to take a 2-1 lead into the locker rooms.
RMU continued to work the puck in deep in the third, crashing the crease and making life difficult on Burke as they searched for the equalizer. Â Big stops in close on Maggy Burbidge and Natalie Marcuzzi helped preserve the PSU lead.
After controlling play for nearly all of the third, Michaela Boyle finally found the back of the net for Robert Morris, letting go of a rocket from the high slot for her team-leading 18th goal of the year.
A desperate push for RMU in the final minutes of regulation nearly secured three points for the Colonials, but another big save by Burke pushed it into extra time.
Despite a 6-2 advantage in shots on goal in OT, they could not find a third goal, settling for a point and a 2-2 tie.
RMU returns to action next weekend when they head to Erie, Pa. for a pair of showdowns against Mercyhurst on Friday and Saturday afternoon.
