BEMIDJI, Minn. – Despite 36 saves from senior goaltender Brianna Piper, the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) women's hockey team fell to Bemidji State University, 4-0, this evening at Sanford Center. With the win, the Beavers improve to 3-0, while the Engineers drop to 0-2.
 
Piper (Oakville, ON/Toronto Jr. Aeros) notched double-digit saves in all three periods, including 15 in the second. Bemidji State redshirt freshman Erin Deters (Sartell, MN) stopped all 15 shots she faced for her first collegiate shutout.
 
The Beavers jumped out to a 1-0 lead, just 16 seconds into the game. Junior Kristine Huber (Kelowna, BC) intercepted a pass at the RPI blue line and skated in a breakaway. She slipped the puck between the pads of Piper for her first of the season.
 
Bemidji freshman Summer Thibodeau (Maple Grove, MN) added the hosts lead at 17:39 of the second stanza, taking a feed across the goal mouth from redshirt freshman Ciscely Nelson (Roseau, MN) for the first goal of her collegiate career. Senior Kayleigh Chapman (Virden, MB) picked up the second helper.
 
A power-play goal by senior Rachel Kelly (Rosemount, MN) made it 3-0 at 12:40 of the third. Corralling the rebound off shot by junior Kaitlyn Tougas (Thunder Bay, ON), Kelly flipped a shot past Piper for the goal.
 
Freshman Alex Bond (Barrie, ON) capped the scoring at 13:19 of the third period, on a slap shot from the left point. Assists went to seniors Krstine Grenier (St. Leon, MB) and Alex Citrowske (Savage, MN).
 
The Engineers return to action next Saturday, when they host Vermont at the Houston Field House (3pm). RPI visits the Catamounts on Sunday (2pm) to complete the home-and-home series.