ERIE, Pa. — No. 7 Robert Morris and Mercyhurst faced each other for the third time this season Friday night.
For the third time this season, the two teams skated to a 2-1 final and for the third time this season, it was a Robert Morris victory, as Maeve Garvey’s overtime goal finished another tightly contested game between the teams at Mercyhurst Ice Center.
This one had all the signs of a traditional rivalry matchup: tight checking, low shots, solid goaltending and clutch goals.
For the first 48 minutes, the teams played to a stalemate, until sophomore defender Kirsten Welsh unloaded a wrist shot over the glove of Mercyhurst goaltender Jessica Convery that put the Colonials up by one.
In a matter of minutes, the momentum flipped the other way, as Jillian Skinner corralled the puck and deposited it behind Jessica Dodds with just under a minute remaining in the game and the goaltender pulled.
But only four seconds after the ensuing faceoff, Mercyhurst took a tripping minor, handing the Colonials a late powerplay. They started the extra period with 1:06 of the time with the additional attacker, and would need every bit of it, as Maeve Garvey scored the game winner just over a minute into the extra frame.
“We really didn’t want to go to overtime in the first place,” Garvey said. “Luckily, [Amanda Pantaleo] made a nice play on the rush and we were able to put it in the net.”
Maeve Garvey’s overtime game-winning shot. — BRIAN MITCHELL
FOR THE WIN
For the Colonials, it marks the first time since 2012-13 that the team won the season series against the Lakers. Garvey, now a senior, was just a commit at the time.
“It feels like its a long time coming,” she said. “It’s always been a battle. To finally get a step up on them is a really nice feeling.”
She didn’t overlook the final game of the series, either.
“We’ve got to be ready to go again tomorrow. We’re not done with them yet.”
Kirsten Welsh scores in the third period. — BRIAN MITCHELL
BACK ON TOP
Welsh scored her NCAA-leading ninth goal of the season from the blueline. It was her first goal since two clutch tallies against then-No. 5 Clarkson on November 26th in the Windjammer Tournament.
“I’ve been due for a couple games now,” Welsh said. “I’ve been missing the net and lost my focus, but it’s good to be back now.”
COLONIALS NOTES
Senior Jessica Dodds made the start in the first game of a series for the second time this season. The backstop improved her record to 8-0-4 with a .924 save percentage.
She also added her seventh career point on the secondary assist of the Garvey game-winner.
The Colonials and Lakers complete their season series with a 1 p.m. faceoff on Saturday. The game had originally been scheduled for 2 p.m.
