Box Score | ECAC Hockey Standings

TROY, N.Y. - Senior Rachel Welsh scored twice and classmate Jocelyn Simpson had a goal and two assists to lead the Colgate University women's ice hockey team to a 3-1 win over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in an ECAC Hockey contest at Houston Field House. The Raiders improve to 8-21-2 overall and 5-14-0 in the league, while the Engineers are now 10-17-3 and 6-11-2.

Welsh (Calgary, AB / Edge School) had the second and third goals for the visitors, with Simpson (Shorewood, IL / Chicago Mission), her right wing, earning the primary assist on both markers. Sophomore Ashlynne Rando (Sugerland, TX / N.A.H.A.) finished with 27 saves, including 17 in the third period. Many of those came with her team holding a one-goal lead.

The Engineers jumped out to the lead at 11:02 of the first period when sophomore blueliner Brandi Banks (Burlington, ON / Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres) scored her first career goal. With RPI sustaining pressure in the offensive zone, she pinched in from the blueline and stepped into a loose puck with a one-timer that beat Rando. Mari Mankey (Hopkins, MN / Hopkins High School) and Ali Svoboda (Arlington Heights, IL / Chicago Mission) had the assists.

RPI's lead was short-lived, however, as the Raiders needed just 37 seconds to tie the score when Simpson deflected a shot past Kelly O'Brien (Sussex, WI / Madison Capitals) for her sixth goal of the year. Two assists were awarded on the play, going to Megan Wickens (Toronto, ON / Etobicoke Jr. Dolphins) and Miriam Drubel (Hanover, NH / N.A.H.A.).

The Raiders took a 2-1 lead with a power play goal at 5:31 of the second period, taking advantage of a stick-less O'Brien. Welsh whacked at a rebound of her initital attempt and put it past O'Brien, who had been without a stick for several seconds and at least two shots prior to the goal. Drubel had the secondary assist on Walsh's goal, her third of the season.

RPI spent the better part of the third period in its offensive zone as it generated 17 shots, but the Raiders countered at the 16:19 mark and Walsh scored on a 3-on-2 rush with a shot from between the circles that snuck under the crossbar. Katie Case (Grosse Point Shores, MI / Bluewater Jr. Hawks) joined Simpson with an assist. 

O'Brien finished with 13 saves for Rensselaer, which was 0 for 4 on the power play and 2 for 3 on the penalty kill. 

The Engineers host Senior Day on Saturday afternoon following its game against No. 3 Cornell University. The Raiders travel to Union College on Saturday afternoon. Both games are league games that begin at 4pm.