Box Score Box Score

CANTON, N.Y. – Senior captain Kelly Sabatine scored two goals, including the eventual game-winner to lead the St. Lawrence University women's hockey team to a, 3-2, victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), this afternoon in the ECAC Hockey opener for both schools. With the win, the Saints improve to 1-5-0 overall (1-0-0 ECACH), while the Engineers drop to 1-4-1 (0-1-0 ECACH).

Sabatine (Hamilton, ON) stuck home the game-winning marker past RPI sophomore netminder Brianna Piper (Oakville, ON/Toronto Jr. Aeros) at 17:45 of the first period, breaking a 2-2 tie. Assists went to classmate Brooke Fernandez (Bloomfield, CT) and Amanda Boulier (Watertown, CT).

Piper, who made 11 saves on 14 shots in the opening stanza was replaced by classmate Kelly O'Brien (Sussex, WI/Madison Capitals) to start the second period. O'Brien stopped all 11 shots she faced over the final two periods.

After a scoreless second period, the Engineers turned up the pressure late in the third, but were unable to solve St. Lawrence sophomore goaltender Carmen MacDonald (Pictou, NS) for a third time. MacDonald ended the afternoon with 20 saves on 22 RPI attempts on goal.

Engineers' senior captain Taylor Horton (St. Thomas, ON/Bluewater Jr. Hawks) opened the scoring just 56 seconds in the in game when she roofed a shot over the left shoulder MacDonald. Classmate and fellow captain Katie Daniels (Rockton, IL/Chicago Mission) earned the lone assist on Horton's first of the season.

Sabatine evened the score (1-1) at 8:12 of the first, when she batted in a rebound off a shot by junior Rylee Smith (Hagersville, ON). Freshman Abbey McRae (Chesterfield, MO) then netted her first collegiate goal to give the hosts a 2-1 advantage at the 10:20 mark.

RPI pulled even at 14:51, when sophomore Delaney Middlebrook (Minneapolis, MN/Niagara University) flipped the puck towards the St. Lawrence net. Freshman Mari Mankey (Coon Rapids, MN/Hopkins HS) was there to knock it past MacDonald for her second of the season.

The Engineers return to the ice tomorrow night, when they visit fourth-ranked Clarkson at Cheel Arena (3:30pm). St. Lawrence hosts Union tomorrow (2pm).