Box Score
TROY, N.Y. – Powered by two second period goals, the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) women’s hockey team defeated the University of North Dakota (UND), 3-1, in non-conference action this evening. The Engineers, who picked up their first victory over the Fighting Sioux with the win, improve to 1-1-0 overall. UND is now 0-1-2.
The homestanding Engineers struck first in the opening period as sophomore Whitney Naslund (Bloomington, MN/Bloomington Jefferson) converted a long pass from junior Melissa Boik (Allen Park, MI/Michigan Capitals) at 16:18. Catching the Fighting Sioux on a bench change, Boik shot the puck up to Naslund, who speeded into the zone for the backhanded goal past UND netminder Brittany Kirkham (Nepean, ON/NCCP Junior Raiders).
North Dakota would tie things up just 45 seconds into the second period as sophomore Randi Motsko (Fairbanks, AK/North American Hockey Academy) scored her first goal of the season. Nabbing the puck off a pass from classmate Ashley Lynch (Gilbert Plains, MB/Gilbert Plains Collegiate), Motsko broke in on the Rensselaer goalie and chipped the shot up over her shoulder and in.
Less than six minutes later, RPI freshman Kendra Dunlop (Granum, AB/Warner Hockey School) broke the tie with her first career goal. Junior Nicole McDonald (Ottawa, ON/Ottawa Raiders) earned the assist on the tally after taking the initial shot on Kirkham, which rebounded out to Dunlop just outside the crease. Fighting through traffic, Dunlop put one past the goalie’s glove side for the goal.
Junior Melanie Guillemette (North Bay, ON/Stony Creek Jr. Sabres) gave Rensselaer a two-goal cushion at 13:54, taking advantage of a 5-on-3 power play opportunity. Setting up at the right point, Guillemette unleashed a shot at Kirkham which ricocheted off the post, but the goalie was unable to find it as it went off her back and across the line.
The Engineers, who held a 33-23 advantage in shots in the contest, saw Mayr finish with 22 saves on the afternoon for the win. Her counterpart, Kirkham, posted 30 saves.
Both teams return to action tomorrow afternoon for a 4pm face-off at the Houston Field House.
