Box Score / Post-Game Interviews / Highlights

TROY, N.Y. – Despite scoring two goals in the final period, the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) women's hockey team could not complete a comeback, falling to Brown University, 3-2 at the Houston Field House. With the win, the Bears move to 6-7-7 overall and 3-6-4 in league play, taking sole possession of eighth place in the standings and final playoff position.  The Engineers fall to 6-16-4 with a 3-9-2 mark in ECAC Hockey.
 
Facing a 2-0 deficit after two periods of play, the Engineers worked to pull it within one as senior Jill Vandegrift (St. Paul, MN/Minnesota Thoroughbreds) got one past Bears netminder Katie Jamieson (Waterloo, ON/Bluevale) through a scramble at 2:51.
 
Rensselaer continued to fight and the momentum paid off as rookie Eleeza Cox (St. Catherines, ON/Ridley College) tipped the puck in high off a shot at the top of the near circle by senior Amanda Castignetti (Anchorage, AK/Shattuck-St. Mary's).  The power play goal, which was initially waived off over concerns of a high-stick but confirmed on review, saw sophomore Jordan Smelker (Anchorage, AK/Team Alaska 19U) earn the secondary assist.
 
The Bears refused to back down and capitalized on an extra-man advantage of their own less than a minute later as junior Alena Polenska (Kunta Hora, Czech Republic/Wyoming Seminary College Prep) buried the rebound of a Skyelar Siwak (Olds, AB/Olds) blocked shot in front for the eventual game-winner.
 
Looking to pull things even, the Engineers pulled netminder Brianna Piper (Toronto, ON/Toronto Jr. Aeros) in favor of the extra-man with 1:30 to play, but were thwarted with a penalty for too many players on the ice.  RPI tried to grab the equalizer with Piper back on the bench in the final 20 seconds, but could not get past Jamieson, who finished with 23 stops.
 
The two teams played to a scoreless first period until the Bears jumped out to the 2-0 advantage in the middle stanza.  Sophomore Jessica Hoyle (Toronto, ON/Havergal College) made it a 1-0 lead for the visitors just 31 seconds in as she re-directed the puck into the net off a shot from senior captain Paige Pyett (Milestone, SK/Notre Dame).
 
Rookie Janice Yang (West Port, CT/Choate Rosemary Hall) pushed the lead to two (2-0) at the 11:03 mark after a shot from Hoyle at the top of the near circle careened off her skate and caromed out to her own stick for a backhanded attempt past Piper, who finished with 18 saves.
 
Rensselaer is back in action next weekend with a home-and-home series against travel partner and area-rival, Union.  The Engineers visit Schenectady on Friday before welcoming the Dutchwomen on Saturday at the Houston Field House.  Both games begin at 3pm.  The Bears return to action on Tuesday when they host travel partner, Yale at Meehan Auditorium at 7pm.