Box Score

ST. CLOUD, Minn. - Alyssa Wiebe scored just 29 seconds into overtime to give the North Dakota women's hockey team a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over Rensselaer in the first game of the Easton/St. Cloud State Showcase.  The Fighting Sioux improve to 11-7-1 while the Engineers fell to 10-6-2.

The loss also saw RPI's three-game winning streak come to an end.  The Engineers had not lost a game since a 5-0 defeat at nationally-ranked Dartmouth on November 8.

Tied 1-1 heading into the final period, Rensselaer grabbed a one-goal lead after freshman defenseman Amanda Castignetti (Anchorage, AK/Shattuck St. Mary's) connected off a pass from fellow blueliner Sierra Vadner (Apple Valley, MN/Minnesota Thoroughbreds) at the 2:45 mark.  Junior forward Whitney Naslund (Bloomington, MN/Bloomington Jefferson) was credited with the second assist.

The lead held until the 17:25 mark when sophomore Marie-Michelle Poirier scored her second goal of the game.  Freshman Kelsey Fletcher's inital shot was blocked by the defense, but Poirier picked up the loose puck and banged it home past RPI netminder Sonja van der Bliek (Toronto, ON/Toronto Jr. Aeros) to tie things up.  

Heading into overtime, the Fighting Sioux got the puck in their own zone and goalie Stephanie Ney passed the puck up to senior Randi Motsko, who then sent it to Wiebe for the game-winner.  It was the first career point for the rookie netminder, who made 22 saves in the win.

The two teams went scoreless to open the game and Rensselaer picked up the 1-0 lead at the 12:32 mark of the second period off of freshman Alisa Harrison's (Vienna, VA/Washington Pride) team-leading sixth goal of the season.  The power-play goal was assisted by Vadner and senior defenseman Melissa Boik (Allen Park, MI/Michigan Captials).

North Dakota answered just under a minute later as Poirier scored at 13:26 to make it a 1-1 game and set up the exciting third period of action.  She was assisted by freshman Sara Dagenais.

Both the Fighting Sioux and the Engineers posted 24 shots on goal in the game.  Van der Bliek posted 21 saves in the loss for RPI.

The Engineers return to action on Saturday night when they take on the host Huskies of St. Cloud State at 8:07pm (EST).  The Fighting Sioux are in action at 5:07pm when they face-off against #10 Wayne State.