DURHAM, N.H. - Junior Alexa Gruschow scored the game's first goal, but the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) women's hockey team fell to New Hampshire, 2-1, this evening in non-league play from Whittmore Center. With the win, the Wildcats improve to 2-3-1 on the season, while the Engineers drop to 0-4-1.

Gruschow opened the scoring at 5:05 of the first period, with an assist to classmate Brandi Banks.

The hosts answered at 8:34 of the frame, when Heather Kashman buried one past RPI senior goaltender Brianna Piper to tie the game at 1-1. Assists went to Haley Breedlove and Sara Carlson. 

New Hampshire made it 2-1 at 13:06 of the opening stanza on Breedlove's first of the season. The lone helper went to Kayla Mork. 

Piper finished with 20 saves for RPI, while Vilma Vaatovaara also had 20 stops at the other end of the ice.

The Engineers return home for a two-game series against UConn next Saturday (3pm) and Sunday (2pm).