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TROY, N.Y. – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) student-athlete Alexa Gruschow has been named the Rookie of the Week by ECAC Hockey, it has been announced. A freshman forward, Gruschow had five points in helping the Engineers to a 1-0-1 weekend. (Watch Friday's game by clicking HERE.)

In her collegiate debut on Friday night against the University of Connecticut, the Mechanicburgh, Pa., native scored two goals on a game-high six shots in a 4-4 tie. She also had an even plus/minus rating. Gruschow's first career goal was the first of the game, which came at 13:51 of the first period. She then tallied again, this time on the power play, early in the second period.

The next afternoon, also against UConn, the former Washington Pride standout had three assists to help the Engineers to a 5-3 victory. She had two helpers in the second period, including the lone assist on the eventual game-winning goal and one on the power play, in the third. Gruschow also had three shots on goal and was a plus-1.

While with the Pride last season, she had 48 goals and 60 assists for 108 points in 62 games. Six of her goals came on the power play and two were shorthanded.

Gruschow also played on the Mechanicburg Area Senior High School boys' hockey team and ran cross country and track & field. She was an All-Central Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League selection as a senior and she set the school records in the 300-meter hurdles and in the 800 meters.

She is a biology major at Rensselaer.

The Engineers are back in action with a pair of non-league games against nationally-ranked Hockey East foes this weekend. On Friday they play at No. 3 Boston University at 7pm. The next day at 3pm, RPI faces No. 8 Northeastern University in Boston.