SCHENECTADY, N.Y.  – Four different players scored to lead Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) past Union College in ECAC Women's Hockey action on Friday at Messa Rink. With the victory, the Engineers move to 6-7-5 overall and 4-3-0 conference play. The Dutchwomen slip to 1-12-1 and 0-6-1 in ECAC Hockey.

The Engineers came out firing in the opening period as sophomore Taylor Horton (St. Thomas, ON/Bluewater Jr. Hawks) lit the lamp at 4:59. Horton was assisted on the goal – her fifth of the season – by linemates Alisa Harrison (Vienna, VA/Washington Pride) and Jordan Smelker (Anchorage, AK/Team Alaska 19U).

Junior Kristen Jakubowski (Lake Placid, NY/The Northwood School) made it a 2-0 advantage less than four minutes later as she banged home a feed from senior captain Kendra Dunlop (Granum, AB/Warner Hockey School) at 8:19.

Rensselaer tacked on another goal late in the middle stanza as rookie Toni Sanders (York, PA/Susquehanna Rapids 19U) scored unassisted at 16:26 for a three-goal lead heading into the final period.

Union came on strong in the third period, recording 12 of their 21 shots in the game during the final 20 minutes. The persistence paid off at the 11:38 mark as senior Marissa Gentile (Groton, MA/Tabor Academy) scored off assists from classmate Perri Maduri (Westford, MA/Lawrence Academy) and Lauren Cromartie (Shellbrook, SK/Athol Murray College of Notre Dame).

Late in the game, the Engineers regained their three-goal lead as senior Sydney O'Keefe (Prior Lake, MN/Prior Lake) scored with 58 seconds remaining. 

In goal, the Engineers saw senior Sonja van der Bliek (Toronto, ON/Toronto Jr. Aeros) post 21 saves to pick up her sixth win of the season. The game also marked the 100th game played of van der Bliek's career (99 starts). 

Union's Kate Gallagher (Minneapolis, MN/Blake School) stopped 30 shots in the loss.

The same teams take to the ice on Saturday afternoon as the series shifts to Troy. Face-off between the Engineers and the Dutchwomen will be at 4pm at the Houston Field House.