TROY, N.Y. – Rookie Taylor Mahoney (Cary, IL/Chicago Mission) scored with just 10 seconds remaining in the game to lift the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) women's hockey team to a 3-2 exhibition victory over the Toronto Jr. Aeros at the Houston Field House. It was the season opener for the Engineers, who kick off the regular season next weekend at Connecticut.

Locked in a 2-2 battle after the opening 40 minutes, the Engineers saved the dramatics for the closing seconds as junior Andie Le Donne (Toronto, ON/Durham West Lightning) sent the puck into the Aeros zone. Rookie right winger Ali Svoboda (Arlington Heights, IL/Chicago Mission) settled it in the left circle and quickly shifted it into the slot at the top of the crease.

A heads-up play in front by sophomore Jordan Smelker (Anchorage, AK/Team Alaska U19) saw the winger left winger shift the puck to Mahoney at the left post for the open goal.

Rensselaer opened the game's scoring at 2:18 of the first as senior Sierra Vadner (Apple Valley, MN/Minnesota Thoroughbreds) corralled a pass from rookie left winger Eleeza Cox (St. Catharines, ON/Ridley College) and slid across the high point to the right side. She fired a shot that caught Aeros netminder Sarah Stephens (Barrie, ON) off-guard and over her glove side.

Toronto answered at the 8:55 mark as Victoria Andreakos (Aurora, ON) deflected in a shot deep in the slot past the reach of freshman netminder Brianna Piper (Oakville, ON/Toronto Jr. Aeros). She was aided by Brooke Webster (Aurora, ON), who fired a shot mid-way through the left circle.

The Engineers, who held a 15-3 advantage in shots for the opening stanza, quickly grabbed a 2-1 advantage just 1:59 into the period. Cox earned her second assist of the day, controlling it in the zone down low. Senior captain Alisa Harrison (Vienna, VA/Washington Pride) worked her way in deep through traffic and jammed it in past Stephens for the lead.

Retaliation came from the Aeros near the end of the frame as Laura Stacey (Kleinburg, ON) fought her way into the RPI zone and ripped a shot from the left circle that sailed over the shoulder of Engineers rookie Kelly O'Brien (Madison, WI/Madison Capitals) at 16:12.

In the third period, the Engineers continued to fire at the Aeros net and finally got the go-ahead by Mahoney. RPI held a 45-16 advantage in shots for the game, including a 16-5 margin in the final stanza.

For the Engineers, Piper stopped six shots in her collegiate debut, while O'Brien had eight saves to garner the victory.  Stephens was strong in net for the Aeros, making 42 saves.

Rensselaer opens a six-game road stretch next weekend, beginning with a two-game set against the Huskies on Friday (7pm). Toronto is back in action on Saturday as they head to Hamilton, N.Y., for a 2pm match at Colgate.