Box Score

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. – Freshman forward Taylor Horton (St. Thomas, ON/Bluewater Hawks) scored her first career goal and Rensselaer held on for a 2-0 victory over Niagara in non-conference action on Friday. With the win, the Engineers improve to 2-0-1, while the Purple Eagles fall to 1-2-0.

After skating through a scoreless first period, RPI struck first on Horton's first career tally. Off assists from seniors Rossli Chace (Hampton Falls, NH/Governor Dummer Academy) and Laura Gersten (Queensbury, NY/Troy-Albany Ice Cats), Horton was able to send a low wrist shot past the reach of Niagara goalie Jenni Bauer (St. Catherines, ON/Bemidji State) at 11:29 of the second stanza.

Late in the game, Niagara attempted to pull the score even, favoring the extra-attacker as Bauer came to the bench at the 18:28 mark. Senior Whitney Naslund (Bloomington, MN/Bloomington Jefferson) took advantage of the empty net, corralling a pass from classmate Allison Wright (Oakville, ON/Oakville Ice) for the insurance goal at 18:57.

Junior Sonja van der Bliek (Toronto, ON/Toronto Jr. Aeros) stopped all 22 shots she faced in the contest to improve to 2-0-1 on the season. She has not allowed a goal in the last 128:41 minutes of action.

Bauer finished with 16 stops in the game and is now 1-2-0 overall.

The Purple Eagles held a 22-18 advantage in shots, while the Engineers were 37 for 61 on the face-off. Neither team was able to take advantage on the power play as RPI went 0 for 9 with the man-advantage and Niagara was 0 for 6.

Both teams return to action tomorrow afternoon with a 2pm match at Dwyer Arena.