Box Score

PRINCETON, N.J. – Junior Allison Wright (Oakville, ON/Oakville Ice) scored at 16:00 of the second overtime to give Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) a 2-1 win over third-seeded Princeton University in the first game of the best-of-three ECAC Hockey quarterfinal series at Hobey Baker Rink. The longest game in the program's history, it also marked the Engineers' first playoff victory since elevating to Division I. 

In addition to the Engineers' first playoff victory, the win over the Tigers also marked the 100th career victory for head coach John Burke, who is now 100-67-15 in six years at the helm.

Rookie Alisa Harrison (Vienna, VA/Washington Pride) and junior Allysen Weidner (Wichita, KS/Shattuck St. Mary's) set up the game-winning goal as they came into the Princeton zone on a 2-on-1, fighting through the Tigers defense. Harrison chipped the puck up to Wright, who had raced into the slot, collected the pass and beat the Princeton goalie through a screen in front.

RPI, the sixth seed, jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a goal by senior center Jamie-Lynn Stewart (Cambridge, ON/Cambridge Jr. Fury). Off a pass from the point by junior defender Laura Gersten (Queensbury, NY/Troy-Albany Ice Cats), Stewart got a shot past the reach of Princeton goalie Kristen Young (Calgary, AB/Bowness Bruins) on the power play at 15:33. Rookie defenseman Amanda Castignetti (Anchorage, AK/Shattuck St. Mary's) was credited with the second assist.

In the second stanza, which saw the shots split even at 7-7, the teams skated through a nearly scoreless period until a late interference penalty on RPI sophomore Kendra Dunlop (Granum, AB/Warner Hockey School) gave the homestanding Tigers the advantage they'd need.

With just seconds remaining on the advantage, freshman forward Heather Landry (Lexington, MA/Middlesex School) corralled a pass from sophomore defenseman Sasha Sherry (Lehighton, PA/Shattuck St. Mary's) and put the puck past RPI goalie Sonja van der Bliek (Toronto, ON/Toronto Jr. Aeros) at 19:31. Freshman Charissa Stadnyk (Calgary, AB/Calgary Flyers) earned the secondary assist.

Neither team scored in the final stanza and they remained locked in a 1-1 tie through the first overtime to set up the drama in the following frame.

Both netminders had solid efforts in their respective nets as RPI's van der Bliek stopped 31 of the 32 shots she faced, including six in the first and second periods, 10 in the third stanza and seven and two, respectively, in the overtime sessions.

Princeton's Young made 23 saves. She had one each in the first period and second overtime, seven in the second stanza, nine in the third period and five in the first overtime.

The Engineers improve to 17-13-4 while the Tigers saw their six-game unbeaten streak come to an end and are now 18-10-2.

Game 2 of the best-of-three series between Rensselaer and Princeton is set for 4pm on Saturday. Game 3, if necessary, will be played on Sunday (4pm). Fans who are unable to be in Princeton for the contests can listen live on 91.5 FM, WRPI, and online at www.wrpi.org.