Box Score

TROY, N.Y. – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) scored three goals in the opening period, including two from junior Laura Gersten (Queensbury, NY/Troy-Albany Ice Cats), and limited its opponent to just five shots on goal to defeat Union College in an ECAC Hockey game at the Houston Field House.

RPI improves to 6-5-1 (3-1-1 ECAC Hockey) with the victory. Sophomore Sonja van der Bliek (Toronto, ON/Toronto Jr. Aeros) recorded her second shut-out and earned her fifth win of the season, respectively. With the loss Union drops to 0-12-1 (0-5-0 ECAC Hockey).

Senior defensemen Melissa Boik's (Allen Park, MI/Michigan Capitals) second goal of the season gave the Engineers a 1-0 lead at 13:27 of the first period. Boik, who was set up midway between the blue line and to the right face-off circle, blasted a slap-shot past Union goalie Lundy Day (Calgary, Alberta/U. of Maine) into the back of the net. Sophomore Kendra Dunlop (Granum, Alberta/Warner Hockey School) and freshman Laura Guillemette (Ste-Marie-de-Beauce, PQ/Notre Dame) tallied helpers on the play.

RPI gained a two-goal advantage just minutes later, at 15:33 of the first, courtesy of Gersten. Freshman Amanda Castignetti (Anchorage, AK/Shattuck St. Mary's) dropped the puck down from the mid-blue line to junior Whitney Naslund (Bloomington, MN/Bloomington Jefferson), who crossed the puck toward the right circle where Gersten swooped in for control and fired the shot at Day for the score.

Gersten added her second goal of the period at 17:33 on the power play. Junior Allison Wright (Oakville, ON/Oakville Ice) passed the puck to Castignetti at the top of the right face-off circle, who swung it to Gersten in the middle of the ice. She wasted little time, and fired the puck through traffic for her third goal of the season.

Rensselaer was crisp on offense but was unable to light the lamp in the remainder of the game as Day made 13 saves in the second period and six in the third to hold off the Engineers.

RPI had various opportunities to score, including a span of 1:30 in the second period when Union had two players in the penalty box, but were unable to capitalize on any additional chances. Union was marred by penalties, racking up 22 minutes in the box.

Van der Bliek was forced to make just five saves while Day stopped 27 shots in the loss for the Dutchwomen.

Both squads return to action tomorrow afternoon in a 2pm face-off at Messa Rink in Schenectady, N.Y. The game will be broadcast live on 91.5 FM WRPI, and online at www.wrpi.org.