Box Score

TROY, N.Y. – Backed by goals from three different players, including a goal and an assist from junior Jordan Pyers (New Milford, CT/Kent School), seventh-ranked St. Lawrence University defeated Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), 3-0, in ECAC Hockey action this evening. The Saints improve to 18-7-0 and 11-2-0 in the league while the Engineers drop to 11-9-4 overall and 4-6-3 in conference play.

After a scoreless battle through the opening period, the visiting Saints jumped out to a 1-0 lead after junior Carson Duggan (Ma-Me-O Beach, AB/Edmonton Chimos) slammed home the rebound of a Karell Emard (Richelieu, PQ/Dawson College Shot).

Coming out of the penalty box after serving two minutes for interference, Emard corralled the puck and took a quick shot at RPI netminder Sonja van der Bliek (Toronto, ON/Toronto Jr. Aeros). Making the initial save, the freshman was unable to control the rebound, which slid out to Duggan, who buried it over van der Bliek’s shoulder at 17:20.

Rensselaer, which held a 13-7 shot advantage over St. Lawrence in the middle frame, was unable to get the puck past Saints goalie Meaghan Guckian (Victor, NY/Buffalo Bisons). Sophomore Whitney Naslund (Bloomington, MN/Bloomington Jefferson) had RPI’s best chance to score in the frame, swinging around the front of the net for a wrap-around attempt, but Guckian made a diving stick save to keep the homestanding Engineers off the board.

Pyers pushed the Saints ahead 2-0 after she picked up the rebound of a blocked RPI shot and went into the zone alone for a backhanded shot over the shoulder of van der Bliek at 3:24 of the third period. Sophomore Britni Smith (Port Perry, ON/Markham Stouffville Stars), who made the block, picked up the lone assist.

St. Lawrence capitalized just three minutes later as defenseman Brittaney Maschmeyer (Bruderheim, AB/Edmonton Chimos) sent a rocketing shot from the far point which slid under the RPI netminder. Karlee Shields (Edmonton, AB/St. Thomas College) and Pyers were credited with the assists.

Guckian posted 25 saves in the win to improve to 14-7-0 on the season. For Rensselaer, van der Bliek made 27 stops and is now 8-4-3.

The Engineers return to action tomorrow afternoon when they host the Golden Knights of Clarkson at the Houston Field House (4pm). The Saints also return to action at Union (4pm).