TROY, N.Y. - Freshman Taylar Cianfarano netted the game's only goal to lift the fifth-ranked Quinnipiac University women's hockey team to a 1-0 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), this afternoon in ECAC Hockey play at the Houston Field House. With the win, the Bobcats improve to 15-1-3 (8-1-2 ECAC Hockey), while the Engineers drop to 4-13-2 (2-6-0 ECAC Hockey).

RPI senior netminder Kelly O'Brien (Sussex, WI/Madison Capitals) was on top of her game early, turning away the first 24 shots she faced, including all 15 in the opening stanza. 

Cianfarano (Oswego, NY/U.S. U-18 National Team) was finally able to break through for the visitors at 15:12 of the second period, burying a cross-ice feed from junior Nicole Connery (Newmarket, ON/Mississauga Jr. Chiefs). Senior captain Morgan Fritz-Ward (Mason City, IA/Lakeville South) picked up the second assist on Cianfarano's ninth goal of the season.

The Engineers picked up their play in the third period, recording five of their eight shots in the final frame, but were unable to sneak a puck past Quinnipiac senior goaltender Chelsea Laden (Lakeville, MN/Lakeville South). With the win, Laden improves to 15-1-2 on the season, while O'Brien drops to 3-8-0.

The Engineers have a quick turnaround as they host Providence for a midweek non-conference game on Tuesday at the Houston Field House (4pm). Quinnipiac hosts Princeton in ECAC Hockey play on Tuesday (7pm).