Box Score

TROY, N.Y. – Junior Kendra Dunlop's goal at 4:24 of the third period proved to be the game-winner as the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) women's hockey team edged past Quinnipiac University, 1-0, in ECAC Hockey action on Friday. With the victory, the Engineers improve to 11-10-5 overall and 8-4-3 in conference play. The Bobcats saw their six-game win streak snapped and are now 13-8-6 and 6-4-5 in ECAC Hockey.

RPI, which has now won each of its last three league contests, remains in fourth-place in the conference standings with 19 points. They are tied with Saturday's opponent Princeton, which also has 19 points after a 3-0 victory over the Dutchwomen on Friday.  Quinnipiac drops to sixth in the standings, tied with St. Lawrence with 17 points.

After battling through two scoreless periods, Dunlop (Granum, AB/Warner Hockey School) was able to give Rensselaer the advantage after collecting a pass from senior Laura Gersten (Queensbury, NY/Troy-Albany Ice Cats) in the neutral zone. Skating in alone, Dunlop rifled a shot from the middle of the far circle, which went five-hole on Bobcats goalie Victoria Vigilanti (Woodbridge, ON/Missisauga Jr. Chiefs).

Quinnipiac continued to fight through the rest of the period, pulling the goalie in favor of the extra-attacker with 45 seconds left. Senior Kallie Flor (Farmington, MN/Farmington), who had a team-best five shots in the game, attempted to pull things even with a shot from the far circle, but Sonja van der Bliek (Toronto, ON/Toronto Jr. Aeros) was there to make the stop, finishing with 17 saves in the contest.

Neither team was able to get on the board in the opening stanza, which saw the Engineers hold an 8-4 lead in shots. Both teams came out firing as the Bobcats nearly got one past van der Bliek just two minutes in. Flor controlled the puck low in the slot and slid a shot toward the left corner of the net, but RPI's goalie made a quick diving glove save to preserve the scoreless game.

The second period of action saw the teams skate to another stalemate as the goalies continued to put on a defensive show. Vigilante came up with several key stops, including a point-blank shot by sophomore Jill Vandegrift (St. Paul, MN/Minnesota Thoroughbreds) low in the slot off a behind the net pass from rookie Taylor Horton (St. Thomas, ON/Bluewater Jr. Hawks).

Vigilanti finished with 24 stops in the loss for Quinnipiac, posting eight saves in the first period, 10 in the second and six in the third. The game saw just four penalties called – all against Quinnipiac – as Rensselaer stayed out of the box for the entire contest. The Engineers finished with the 25-17 advantage in shots.

The Engineers also saw two seniors make history tonight as Whitney Naslund (Bloomington, MN/Bloomington Jefferson) and Allison Wright (Oakville, ON/Oakville Ice) each played in their 131st career contest to become the program's all-time leaders in games played.

Both teams are back in action on Saturday as the Engineers host Princeton at the Houston Field House (4pm). The Bobcats head to Schenectady to take on Union at Messa Rink (4pm).