Box Score / Video Highlights

TROY, N.Y. – Leading scorer Brianna Decker netted the tying goal at 4:38 and Blayre Turnbull pushed the University of Wisconsin ahead less than a minute later as the top-ranked team in the nation edged Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), 4-3 in non-conference action at the Houston Field House.  The victory moves #1 Wisconsin to 12-1-0 overall, while the Engineers slip to 3-8-4.
 
Rensselaer battled back from a two-goal deficit mid-way through the second period as senior Jill Vandegrift (St. Paul, MN/Minnesota Thoroughbreds) and sophomore Jordan Smelker (Anchorage, AK/Team Alaska 19U) each netted power play goals to make it a 3-2 game.
 
Senior captain Alisa Harrison (Vienna, VA/Washington Pride) corralled the puck in the far circle and fired it in on net.  Scrambling for the loose puck, rookie Taylor Mahoney (Cary, IL/Chicago Mission) got her stick on it and nearly punched it in before getting tangled with netminder Alex Rigsby (Delafield, WI/Milwaukee Jr. Admirals AAA Boy).  Taking advantage was Vandegrift, who spun around at the right post and flicked in the puck, which sat uncovered in the goal mouth.
 
Smelker's tally at 18:28 gave the Engineers the advantage as senior Sierra Vadner (Apple Valley, MN/Minnesota Thoroughbreds) got a short pass from junior Andie Le Donne (Toronto, ON/Durham Jr. Lightning) in the near circle of RPI's defensive end and sent a cross-ice outlet pass up to Smelker.  The winger barreled into the Badgers' zone uncontested and ripped a shot from the left circle that went off the left post and in behind Rigsby.
 
The lead proved to be short-lived as Wisconsin took advantage of an early RPI penalty in the third period to make it 3-3.  Off a fantastic feed from senior captain Hilary Knight (Sun Valley, ID/2010 U.S. Olympic Team) at the top of the right circle, Decker (Dousman, WI/Shattuck-St. Mary's) one-timed it from inside the left circle past RPI goalie Kelly O'Brien (Sussex, WI/Madison Capitols) at 4:38.
 
Wisconsin grabbed the eventual game-winner less than a minutes later as freshman Blayre Turnbull (Stellarton, NS/Shattuck-St. Mary's) clipped one in from the edge of the left circle past O'Brien at 5:20.
 
Despite the disadvantage, the Engineers continued to pressure late in the game.  Junior assistant captain Taylor Horton (St. Thomas, ON/Bluewater Jr. Hawks) nearly got the equalizer with 2:36 remaining as she tried to fire one in on Rigsby around traffic, but the netminder was able to shift to make the stop.  Rensselaer pulled O'Brien for the final 1:11 of the game, but could not tie things up.
 
The Engineers opened the scoring in the game as rookie Eleeza Cox (St. Catharines, ON/Ridley College) netted her fifth of the season on a 2-on-1 in front of the net at 5:26 of the first.  Wisconsin made it a 1-all game at 14:15 as senior Carolyne Prevost (Sarnia, ON/London Jr. Devilettes) banged home a centering pass from the far goal line by classmate Brooke Ammerman (River Vale, NJ/North American Hockey Academy).
 
Ammerman would make it a 2-1 lead for the Badgers to open the second, scoring at 11:02 on a 2-on-0 breakaway for the visitors with Prevost earning the assist after passing it through the slot toward the right post.
 
Despite the loss, the Engineers saw an outstanding effort from their defensive unit, which blocked 20 shots and got 34 saves between the pipes from O'Brien.  She made 17 saves in the first period, 10 in the second and seven in the third.
 
For the Badgers, Rigsby stopped 23 shots, including 11 in the second and six in both the first and third periods.  Wisconsin held a 38-26 lead in the shots, while both teams netted a pair of power play goals with RPI going 2-for-5 and the Badgers going 2-for-7.
 
The two teams will conclude the series on Saturday afternoon with a 4pm match-up at the Houston Field House.  Both games will be broadcast live on 91.5 FM, WRPI and online at www.wrpi.org. Live stats will be available at http://www.sidearmstats.com/rpi/whockey/ and a live pay-per-view webcast via America One can be followed at http://www.b2tv.com/partner_members.asp?id=27.