TROY, N.Y. – Junior Alexa Gruschow recorded a pair of goals and an assist to lead the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) women's hockey team to a 4-1 victory over the University of Connecticut, this afternoon at the Houston Field House. With the win, the Engineers improve to 1-4-1, while the Huskies drop to 2-4-2.
 
After a scoreless opening frame, Gruschow (Mechanicsburg, PA/Washington Pride) got the hosts on the board at 2:22 of the second. Senior captain Ali Svoboda (Arlington, IL/Chicago Mission) feed a pass to Gruschow, who swooped into the slot, before burying a low shot past UConn junior netminder Elaine Chuli (Waterford, ON/Stoney Creek International).
 
Senior blueliner Kathryn Schilter (Aurora, ON/Toronto Jr. Aeros) doubled the RPI advantage with a power-play goal at 5:48 of the period. Her blast from the blue line was assisted by junior Lauren Wash (Belle Mead, NJ/New Jersey Rockets) and Gruschow.
 
Gruschow then made it 3-0 at 12:23 of the stanza, firing a one-timer past Chuli off a cross-ice pass from freshman Whitney Renn (Troy, MI/Little Caesars). Sophomore Laura Horwood (Belleville, ON/Durham West Lightning) picked up the second helper on Gruschow's third of the year.
 
The Huskies drew to within 3-1 at 9:50 of the third, thanks to sophomore Kelly Harris' (Canton, MI/Canton) second of the season. Assists on the man-advantage tally went to redshirt junior Caitlin Hewes (Stillwater, MN/Stillwater) and senior Rebecca Fleming (Newton, MA/Holy Cross).
 
Rensselaer put the game away at 18:53 of the period, when senior captain Taylor Mahoney (Cary, IL/Chicago Mission) stuck home an empty net goal.
 
Senior goaltender Kelly O'Brien (Sussex, WI/Madison Capitals) earned the win, recording 26 saves, while Chuli finished with 25 stops.
 
Both teams are back in action tomorrow afternoon for the series finale at the Houston Field House (2pm).