ROCHESTER, NY – Mallory Rushton (Amherst, Nova Scotia/New Hampton Prep) scored with just 1:19 left in regulation to lift the RIT women's hockey team (4-15-1, 0-7-1 CHA) to its first tie of the season, 1-1 versus Lindenwood (4-11-3, 2-3-3 CHA) at the Gene Polisseni Center on Saturday afternoon.

The game was scoreless with under five minutes left in regulation, as RIT goaltender Jetta Rackleff (Bend, OR/Summit) and Lindenwood goalie Nicole Hensley locked up in a great duel. The Lady Lions got on the board first, with just 4:34 left, as Tirra Lemoine jammed in a loose puck from the side of the net after Rackleff made the initial save on Corbin Welsh. Ally Larson also assisted on the goal.

RIT was given a power-play with 1:55 left in regulation and with Rackleff pulled for the extra attacker, RIT put on the pressure. Jess Paton (Woodstock, Ontario/Waterloo K-W Rangers) would feed the puck back to Reagan Rust (Southaven, MS/Moon Area) at the left point. Her hard, rising shot bounced off the helmet of Rushton, who was standing in front of the net and past Hensley for her second goal of the season.

Both teams had good chances to end the game in the extra session. Kandice Sheriff (Brampton, Ontario) was denied in the slot by Hensley, while Paton also had a good chance later in the overtime. Rackleff had to make a huge save on Shannon Morris-Reade halfway through the extra session, sliding her right pad out to keep a good low shot from in close out.

Lindenwood out-shot RIT, 31-29. RIT was 1-for-5 with the man-advantage, while Lindenwood was 0-for-5. Rackleff, the game's first star, made 30 saves, while Hensley, the second star, stopped 28 shots.

"That was a 65-minute battle, both teams came out and competed hard and I was happy that we kept up our intensity all game," said Bruce B. Bates Women's Hockey Coach Scott McDonald. "We needed a win, but we fought hard and did not give up after Lindenwood took the lead. That was a huge goal to tie the game."

Neither team scored in the opening period, as Lindenwood held a 12-6 edge in shots. Rackleff had to be strong during a pair of Lindenwood power-plays, stopping five shots during that span. Hensley made a great save on a deflection from Darcy Henderson (Burlington, Ontario/Burlington Barracudas) in front and made a good save on a hard shot from Lindsay Stenason (Oakville, Ontario/Appleby Collegiate).

RIT turned up the pressure in the second period, but neither team was able to break through. Brooke Baker (Saline, MI/Saline) had a great chance on a partial breakaway denied by a Lindenwood defender. Hensley's best save came on a backhand attempt by Logan Land (Turkey Point, Ontario/Holy Trinity Catholic) as RIT was on a power-play. Rackleff had to come up with a few key saves late in the period.

Rackleff made two huge saves to keep the game scoreless early in the third period, stopping Emily Gunderson from the doorstep and then denying Xylia Lang from the slot on the ensuing rebound.

RIT is 5-4-5 all-time against the Lady Lions, including a 3-2-3 record in Rochester.  RIT also heads to Lindenwood for a pair of games on Feb. 5-6, 2016. Yesterday, Lindenwood scored four unanswered goals to defeat RIT, 4-1. Hensley made 33 saves for the Lions, while Rackleff stopped 28 shots for RIT.

Today's game was the 10th and final home contest in an 11-game stretch for RIT. RIT completed the homestand with a 1-8-1 record. The Tigers play just five of their final 14 regular season games on home ice.

RIT is off for the next five weeks and return to action on Jan. 8-9 at Providence College. Game time for both days is 3 p.m.