Box Score Box Score

TROY, N.Y. – Sophomore Ali Svoboda netted two goals, including the eventual game-winner to lead the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) women's hockey team to a, 5-3, victory over the University of Connecticut, this afternoon at the Houston Field House. With the win, the Engineers improve to 1-0-1, while the Huskies drop to 0-2-1.

Tied 2-2 in the second, Svoboda (Arlington, Heights, IL/Chicago Mission) tapped home a shot from point blank range to give the Engineers the lead for good. The goal, which came at 6:51 of the frame, was assisted by freshman Alex Gruschow (Mechanicburgh, PA/Washington Pride) and junior Jordan Smelker (Anchorage, AK/Team Alaska 19U).

Svoboda made it 4-2, less than five minutes later when she was found on the break by Gruschow along the left wing boards. Svoboda carried the puck into the slot and ripped a wrist shot that found to the top left corner of the net.

Rensselaer took that two-goal lead into the third, along with a 22-13 edge in shots on goal.

In the third, Smelker extended the home team's advantage to 5-2, on a great individual effort in front of the UConn cage. After Gruschow dug the puck out of the corner to Smelker, she shielded it on her backhand into the slot before beating junior goaltender Sarah Moses (New Hamburg, ON/Niagara University) low, stick side.

The Huskies were able to pull back to within, 5-3, on a tally by freshman Michela Cava (Thunder Bay, ON/Thunder Bay), but could not close the gap any further.

Missy Mankey (Coon Rapids, MN/Minnesota Whitecaps) opened the scoring at 3:20 of the first period after taking a nice feed from freshman blue-liner Jenn Godin (Clarence Center, NY/Tabor Academy). Senior captain Taylor Horton (St. Thomas, ON/Bluewater Jr. Hawks) picked up the second helper on Mankey's first of the year.

The Engineers made it 2-0 at 14:39 of the opening stanza, as sophomore Taylor Mahoney (Cary, IL/Chicago Mission) buried a pass from behind the by junior Toni Sanders (York, PA/Susquehanna Rapids 19U). Madison Marzario (Prior Lake, MN/Shattuck-St. Mary's) also had an assist on the play.

Connecticut fought back to 2-1, with a late first period tally by junior Kiana Nauheim (Fairbanks, AK/Brewster Academy). The Huskies made it 2-2 three minutes into the second as a one-timer by sophomore Sarah MacDonnell (Quispamsis, NB/Brewster Academy) beat RPI sophomore goalie Kelly O'Brien (Sussex, WI/Madison Capitals).

O'Brien (1-0-0) finished with 16 saves, while Moses (0-1-0) stopped 27.

The Engineers hit the road next weekend for non-league games at Boston University and Northeastern on Friday (7pm) and Saturday (4pm), respectively.