Box Score

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Sophomore Sarah Vaillancourt tallied three goals and five assists — three on goals by linemate Jenny Brine — to lead the seventh-ranked Harvard women’s hockey team to an 11-0 win against Rensselaer in the Crimson’s season opener Saturday afternoon at Bright Hockey Center.

Vaillancourt’s eight points were two shy of the Harvard single-game record. Brine added an assist to her hat trick for four points, and the other third of their line, senior center Julie Chu, totaled five points on two goals and three assists with a +5 rating. Sophomore goaltender Brittany Martin made 15 saves for the shutout, the third of her career.

The game was the first league contest for the Engineers (1-7-0) as a member of the ECAC Hockey League. Harvard held a 44-15 advantage in shots, scored four power-play goals in seven chances and killed seven penalties.

On a power play, Caitlin Cahow one-timed a shot wide of the net off a pass from Chu. The puck bounced to the other side of the net, and Vaillancourt put it in before RPI goalie Ashley Mayr could get across the crease.

Sarah Wilson scored to make it 3-0 at 9:36 of the period. Cahow passed out of the corner to Vaillancourt, who shot. Mayr got a piece of the puck, but it settled in the crease behind her, and Wilson skated in to bury it.

Rensselaer nearly got on the board nine minutes into the period, but Martin reached out her glove to take a Whitney Naslund shot off the goal line while sprawled on her back.

Chu’s second goal made it 9-0 after freshman Randi Griffin dug the puck out of the corner and found her open in front. Harvard’s 10th goal was the first of Kati Vaughn’s career. Sifers won the faceoff cleanly back to the point, and Vaughn ripped a slap shot that deflected past relief goalie Emily Ford.

Vaillancourt set up Brine’s third goal about five minutes into the period then finished off her own hat trick at 14:32. She stole the puck from a defender, dipped into the corner to get around another and came back in front to put a shot through the legs of Ford.

Martin made 15 saves in the win for Harvard while Mayr and Ford combined for 33 saves in the loss for Rensselaer

The Crimson returns to Bright Hockey Center to wrap up its opening weekend against Union Sunday at 2 p.m.  The Engineers travel to Dartmouth for a 2pm matchup.