Box Score Box Score

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The Robert Morris University women's ice hockey team earned a season opening series split with a 3-2 overtime victory over RPI this afternoon.

With 1:19 remaining in overtime, senior defenseman Kylie St. Louis tucked in a shot that deflected off the crossbar and behind Engineers goaltender Kelly O'Brien. Junior forward Rebecca Vint  earned her second assist of the contest on St. Louis' goal.

The first of the two would come from freshman forward Brittany Howard, as she collected a pass from classmate Maeve Garvey and fired a slap-shot top shelf past O'Brien. Senior assistant captain Brandi Pollockwas credited with the secondary assist.

After failing to capitalize on the team's first power play of the afternoon, the Colonials made sure their second attempt would hold a better result. RMU forced pressure in front of the net on the man advantage, and shots from Howard and Vint kept O'Brien on her toes. When Vint's shot ricocheted off O'Brien's padding, senior assistant captain Thea Imbrogno batted in the rebound to extend the Colonials lead to 2-0.

RMU almost made it 3-0 in the second period when RPI was on the power play. Vint collected the puck and had a breakaway opportunity against the Engineers goaltender, but her shot attempt found the pipe.

After nearly 19 minutes of scoreless play in the third period, RPI would finally dent the scoreboard with 1:04 remaining. With O'Brien off the ice and St. Louis and senior captain Kristen Richards in the box for respective checking and hooking calls, Kathryn Schilter buried the puck on the 6-on-3 advantage to bring the Engineers within one. Then just 39 seconds later, RPI would tie it up when Taylor Mahoney pushed it past freshman goaltender Jessica Dodds.

Dodds stopped the first shot of overtime and after freshman Rikki Meilleur had her attempt frozen by O'Brien. Vint won the ensuing faceoff, and eventually found St. Louis for the game-winner.

The Colonials held a 28-23 advantage in shots, and were 1-6 on the power play. The penalty kill unit wiped away seven of eight attempts, and Dodds – who was making her first career start – made 21 saves in the victory.