TROY, N.Y. – Junior Molly Illikainen scored the first goal and assisted on the eventual game-winner to lead the St. Cloud State University women's hockey team to a 3-2 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), this afternoon at the Houston Field House. With the win, the Huskies improve to 4-4-1 overall, while the Engineers drop to 1-7-2.
 
St. Cloud opened the scoring at 9:04 of the first period, when Illikainen (Grand Rapids, MN) picked up a loose puck at the left point and skated in on a partial breakaway. She deked left before pulling the puck back to the right and sticking it past RPI senior goaltender Brianna Piper (Oakville, ON/Toronto Jr. Aeros) for her sixth of the season.
 
The Huskies made it 2-0, just 23 seconds later on a snap shot goal by sophomore Lauren Hespenheide (Shakopee, MN) from the left circle. Assists went to junior Alex Makaric (Windsor, ON) and freshman Brittney Anderson (Hudson, WI).
 
Junior Lauren Wash (Belle Mead, NJ/New Jersey Rockets) drew the hosts to within 2-1 at 13:42 of the opening stanza, when she picked up a rebound and ripped a shot off the glove of St. Cloud senior netminder Julie Friend (Minnetonka, MN) and in for her second goal of the year. Senior Kathryn Schilter (Aurora, ON/Toronto Jr. Aeros) took the initial shot to earn the primary assist, while junior Jenn Godin (Clarence Center, NY/Tabor Academy) was credited with the secondary.
 
The Engineers drew even at 2-2 on senior captain Ali Svoboda's (Arlington Heights, IL/Chicago Mission) second the season at 15:23 of the first. Svoboda got into a shot from the middle of the slot that pinged off the left post and in. Helpers went to freshman Shayna Tomlinson (Gilford, NH/Assabet Valley) and senior captain Taylor Mahoney (Cary, IL/Chicago Mission).
 
St. Cloud broke the tie at 7:06 of the second period on a goal by senior Abby Ness (Roseau, MN). Illikainen fed Ness up the left side boards and she finished off a breakaway chance for the eventual game-winning goal. The tally was her second of the year.
 
Friend (4-2) finshed with 28 saves, including all 11 shots she faced in the second period. Piper (0-4-2) had 23 stops at the other end of the ice.
 
Both teams are back in action tomorrow afternoon for the second game of the series. Puck drop is scheduled for 3pm.