Box Score
ITHACA, N.Y. - Junior Nicole McDonald (Ottawa, ON/Ottawa Raiders) netted the game-winning goal at 15:43 of the final period to lead Rensselaer to a 4-3 victory over Cornell in ECAC Women's Hockey action this evening. The Engineers improve to 9-8-3 and 4-5-2 in conference play while the Big Red fall to 7-7-1 and 4-4-1 in the league.
With Cornell holding a 3-2 lead mid-way through the third period, Rensselaer mounted its comeback. Freshman Kendra Dunlop (Granum, AB/Warner Hockey School), who scored the Engineers' second tally of the game, connected in front off a quick pass from junior Melanie Guillemette (North Bay, ON/Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres) to even it at 3 all at 14:55.
McDonald pushed RPI ahead less than a minute later after sophomore Whitney Naslund (Bloomington, MN/Bloomington Jefferson) chipped her the puck in front for the winner past Cornell goalie Kayla Strong.
Cornell opened the scoring in the first period on an even-strength tally by Melanie Jue. Caeleigh Beerworth and Brittany Forgues were credited with the assists on the tally which occured at 5:24.
The Big Red took a 2-0 advantage just under three minutes later as Laura Danforth got one past RPI netminder Ashley Mayr (Burnaby, BC/BC Breakers) at 8:05. Forgues and Beerworth once again earned the assists on the goal, which saw the Engineers pull Mayr in favor of freshman Sonja van der Bliek (Toronto, ON/Toronto Jr. Aeros).
Naslund finally got Rensselaer on the board at 8:18 of the second period with an outstanding individual effort in the neutral zone. Stripping the puck off the stick of a Cornell defender, she speeded in on the Big Red goalie for the short-handed breakaway tally.
Dunlop netted the equalizer later in the frame after Guillemette generated the Cornell turnover and sent it up to the speeding forward for the goal.
RPI saw van der Bliek earn the victory, her sixth of the season, with 22 saves. Mayr stopped two shots to open the game. For the Big Red, Strong shouldered the loss with 15 saves before giving way to Jenny Niesluchowski, who made no saves in the final 2:47.
The Engineers are back in action tomorrow afternoon at Colgate. Face-off is set for 4pm. Cornell hosts Union, also at 4pm.
