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Engineers
Brianna Piper
Sara Melikian '11

Women's Ice Hockey Kevin Beattie, Associate Athletic Director for Communications & Compliance

Women's Hockey Beats Syracuse, 2-1

Freshman netminder Brianna Piper stops 16 of 17 as Engineers defeat Orange, 2-1

Brianna Piper
Box Score

TROY, N.Y. - Freshman Brianna Piper stopped 16 of 17 shots and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) scored two second period goals on its way to a 2-1 victory over Syracuse University in a non-league game at Houston Field House. RPI, which lost to SU, 4-3 on Friday night, improves to 4-10-4, while the Orange are now 6-10-0.

Piper finished with five saves in the first period, three in the second and eight in the third. She made several point-blank stops in improving her personal record to 2-4-3. Syracuse netminder Jenesica Drinkwater (Brantford, ON/Stoney Creek) made 21 saves on the other end and is now 3-5-0.

Following a scoreless first period, the Engineers put two into the back of the net in the second period as they controlled the play throughout the stanza. Sophomore Jordan Smelker (Anchorage, AK/Team Alaska 19U) made it 1-0 with a snap shot over the goaltender's stick-side shoulder from the bottom of the right faceoff circle just 49 seconds into the period. Eleeza Cox (St. Catherines, ON/Ridley College) and Taylor Horton (St. Thomas, ON/Bluewater Jr. Hawks) earned the assists.

Senior Alisa Harrison (Vienna, VA/Washington Pride) doubled the lead at the 6:15 mark, scoring just 14 seconds after RPI had a 59 second 5x3 power play. Harrison notched her sixth of the season when she pushed the rebound of a Jill Vandegrift (St. Paul, MN/Minnesota Thoroughbreds) past Drinkwater. Taylor Mahoney (Cary, IL/Chicago Mission) also had an assist on the play.

RPI had four power play chances in the second period and held an 11-3 advantage in shots. Syracuse had one power play opportunity in the period.

The Orange controlled much of the third period and eventually pulled to within one goal when freshman defenseman Jordyn Burns (Chanhassen, MN/Benilde-St. Margaret's) scored on a slap shot from near the blueline at 13:15. Syracuse continued to press the Engineers but could not tie the game.

Rensselaer travels to ECAC Hockey foes Clarkson and St. Lawrence next weekend. Syracuse hosts Lindenwood for a pair of non-league games next Friday and Saturday.
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