MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. – The RMU women's hockey team battled to a 2-2 tie on Friday afternoon at Lindenwood but came away with two of three possible conference points after securing a 2-0 victory in the shootout. The result moves RMU to 5-11-1 overall and 3-5-1 in Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) play.
FIRST PERIOD
The afternoon started with early adversity, as Lindenwood struck just 11 seconds into the game. Off the opening draw, the Lions forced a turnover and converted quickly, with Zsofia Pazmandi finding the back of the net for a 1-0 lead.
RMU regrouped well after the early setback, settling into the pace of play and matching Lindenwood throughout the rest of the period. Both teams generated 12 shots on goal and came up empty on a pair of power-play opportunities, keeping the score 1-0 after 20 minutes.
SECOND PERIOD
RMU began to tilt the ice early in the middle frame. Just three minutes in, captain
Alaina Giampietro broke loose from a scrum in the corner and skated into the slot, snapping a wrister past the Lions' goaltender to even the score.
Morgan Giannone and
Linnea Misner collected assists on the tying tally.
The Colonials leaned on their penalty kill as the period progressed, successfully shutting down two Lindenwood power plays to keep momentum on their side. That effort paid off late in the frame when RMU earned a power play of its own.
After a chaotic sequence in front of the net with bodies and sticks battling for positioning,
Jessica MacKinnon got the final touch, pushing the puck across the goal line to give RMU a 2-1 lead. Giampietro and
Mya Kearns assisted on the go-ahead goal.
The Colonials carried the one-goal advantage into the second intermission.
THIRD PERIOD
The Lions clawed back early in the third during an extended 5-on-3 power play. After RMU took back-to-back penalties, Lindenwood capitalized, as Josey Dunne-Weeks buried the tying goal to make it 2-2.
Lindenwood maintained pressure throughout the period, outshooting RMU 14-7 in the final 20 minutes. Despite the push, RMU held firm defensively and forced overtime.
OVERTIME
RMU generated the first chances in the 3-on-3 session, with Giannone and
Rowyn Ringor each testing the Lindenwood goaltender. The Lions then earned a power play with just over two minutes remaining, putting the Colonials in a defensive posture to close out the extra frame.
Goaltender
Maggie Hatch turned aside the lone shot she faced during the kill, and the clock expired with the teams still locked at 2-2.
With seconds left, MacKinnon broke free for a potential game-winner, but her attempt was stopped, sending the contest to a shootout.
SHOOTOUT
RMU controlled the shootout from start to finish. After both teams missed their first attempts, MacKinnon struck first, pulling the puck to her forehand and sliding it home for a 1-0 edge. Lindenwood missed its second attempt, setting the stage for Giampietro.
The captain calmly skated up the middle and beat the goaltender five-hole, clinching the 2-0 shootout win and securing two valuable conference points.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Lindenwood held a narrow 41-38 edge in shots on goal, with Giannone leading RMU with five shots.
- RMU blocked 13 shots, led by two each from Calli Arnold, Ashlyn Ham, Emma Goding, and Thalia D'Elia.
- Defensemen Linnea Misner and Shayne Desjardins posted a team-best +1 rating.
- In the faceoff circle, MacKinnon won a team-high 12 draws, while Catriona Crarer led RMU with a 57.1% win rate (8-of-14).
- RMU went 1-for-3 on the power play; Lindenwood finished 1-for-8.
- Hatch recorded 39 saves, marking her fifth 30-plus–save performance of the season.
MULTIPOINT GAME
Giampietro notched her third multipoint effort of the season and the 12th of her career with a goal and an assist. The Strongsville, Ohio native now sits at 49 career points (29g, 20a), just one shy of the 50-point milestone.
UP NEXT
The Colonials and Lions conclude the series on Saturday, November 22, with puck drop scheduled for 1:00 PM ET.
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