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TROY, N.Y. – Junior Ali Svoboda scored two goals as the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) women's hockey team defeated the Ottawa Junior Senators, 5-0, in exhibition play, this afternoon at the Houston Field House.

Freshman Laura Horwood (Belleville, ON/Durham West Lighting) opened the scoring at 5:04 of the first period, when she took a feed from sophomore Alexa Gruschow (Mechanicbrugh, PA/Washington Pride) and beat Ottawa goaltender Tanya Winchombe (Rockland, ON) glove side. Junior Delaney Middlebrook (Minneapolis, MN/Niagara University) earned the second assist.

Rensselaer went up 2-0 at 9:59 of the second period when senior captain Jordan Smelker (Anchorage, AK/Team Alaska 19U) picked up her own rebound and buried over the shoulder of Winchcombe. The tally was unassisted.

The Engineers picked up their scoring in the third period, scoring three times. Svoboda (Arlington Heights, IL/Chicago Mission) scored the first of her two goals on the day at 4:32 of the frame, after shots by Gruschow and senior Toni Sanders (York, PA/Susquehanna Rapids U-19) were stopped by Jr. Senators goalie Shawlee Gaudreault (Russel, ON).

Four minutes later Svoboda made it 4-0 with assists going to Gruschow and Sanders once again. Freshman blueliner Heidi Huhtamaki (Espoo, Finland/Espoo Blues) capped the scoring at 17:03 of the third, when her shot from the high slot took a deflection off the skate of a defender and went into the net.

Junior goaltenders Kelly O'Brien (Sussex, WI/Madison Capitals) and Brianna Piper (Oakville, ON/Toronto Jr. Aeros) each made five saves, while playing 30 minutes each.

The Engineers continue their exhibition schedule next Sunday, when they host Brock University at the Houston Field House (3pm).