Box Score

HAMILTON, N.Y. - Hundreds poured into Starr Rink Friday night to see the Colgate women's ice hockey team face Rensselaer for their annual Autism Awareness Game. The Raiders ended up falling 4-1 to RPI but the night was still a success in creating awareness about Autism.

Colgate (7-16-3) grabbed the first goal of the game after senior captain Jenna Klynstra put the Raiders on top 1-0 midway through the initial period. Megan Wickens and Nicole Gass assisted on Klynstra's fifth goal this season. Rookie Ashlynne Rando pushed aside 19 shots.

RPI (9-15-3) saw four goals in the contest, two of which came during the second period. Eleeza Cox led the Engineers with two goals on the night. Her first goal tied the game and her second was the game-winner 4:23 into the second period. Toni Sanders and Jenn Godin also tacked on goals for the Engineers. RPI's netminder Kelly O'Brien made nine saves to earn her eighth win this season.

Klynstra tallied Colgate's lone goal off a power play after RPI was called for checking at the 7:31 mark in the first period. A little over a minute later the Raiders converted on their man up opportunity sliding one past O'Brien for the early 1-0 lead. Gass started the play finding Wickens at the top of the right faceoff circle. Wickens made a great pass to Klynstra near the net, who blasted it home.

The Engineers would equalize at one all, 14:03 into that same period. Alexa Gruschow came down into the Colgate zone with the puck looking for an open shot. She cut across the middle of the ice and fired a shot on net. Cox was there to tip in the shot past Rando to tie the game.

RPI killed off two Colgate power plays in the remaining minutes to send both teams into the first intermission notched at one a piece.

The Engineers would grab the eventual game winner 4:23 into the second frame. Colgate was called for charging 2:55 into the period giving RPI a one-man advantage. Godin had the puck at the blue line and slid it over to Jordan Smelker, who was waiting in the right corner. Smelker managed to find Cox open in front of the goal and passed it to the forward. She would put it away grabbing her second goal of the game and lifting RPI 2-1 over the Raiders.

Colgate tried to rally back after shots by Gass and Katie Case but each time O'Brien was there to make the save. RPI increased their lead to two goals when Sanders knocked one in past Rando. Katie Daniels led the break for the Engineers down the middle of the ice. She fed it to Mariana Walsh, who then dropped the puck off to Sanders who put it away to give them the 3-1 lead.

RPI tacked on their final goal just 24 seconds into the final frame from a five on four power play. Cox picked up the puck behind the Colgate net and passed it off to Godin, who was waiting at the top of the circle. Her shot went through a screen and into the net.

In the remaining minutes Colgate could not find the needed goals to tie the game.