Box Score
TROY, NY – Freshman Allie Thunstrom (Maplewood, MN/North) scored late in the third period and tenth-ranked Boston College went on to defeat Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), 2-1, in the season opener for both teams. With the victory, the Eagles, improve to 1-0-0 overall, while the Engineers fall to 0-1-0.
Boston College got on the board late in the first period when freshman Anna McDonald (New Brighton, MN/Totino-Grace) tallied past Rensselaer goalie Ashley Mayr (Burnaby, BC/BC Breakers) for the 1-0 lead. Corralling a loose puck in front, McDonald shifted around an RPI defender and tipped the puck past Mayr. Junior Cristin Stuart (Rochester, MN/Minnesota Thoroughbreds), who passed the puck to McDonald from the left circle, and classmate Deborah Spillane (Franklin, MA/Franklin) earned the assists on the goal.
Rensselaer made it a 1-1 game early in the second frame, when sophomore Jamie-Lynn Stewart (Cambridge, ON/Cambridge Jr. Fury) scored on the power play. Classmate Melanie Guillemette (North Bay, ON/Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres) took the initial shot from the point, which landed in a sea of players in front of the crease. Junior Ellen McNamara (Macomb, MI/Little Caesars U-19) found the puck and tipped it to Stewart, who pushed it underneath Eagles’ goalie Molly Schaus (Nattick, MA/Assabett Valley U-19) at 5:45.
The Eagles gained the lead at 6:53 of the third period when Thunstrom sent a backhanded shot over the shoulder of Mayr for the game-winner. Sophomores Becky Zavisza (Suffield, CT/Berkshire) and Maggie Taverna (Howell, NJ/Princeton Tiger Lillies) were credited with the assists.
Schaus finished with 18 saves in the win for Boston College, which had nine shots in the first period, eight in the second and seven in the third for a game total of 24. Mayr stopped 22 shots in the Engineers loss. RPI posted seven shots in the first, eight in the second and four in the third for a total of 19.
Rensselaer returns to action next Saturday and Sunday at North Dakota. Both games begin at 4pm (Eastern Time). The Eagles host Quinnipiac next Saturday afternoon at 2pm.
