TROY, N.Y. – Senior Becca Kohler scored the eventual game-winning goal with 1:59 left in the third period to lift the sixth-ranked University of North Dakota women's hockey team to a 4-3 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), in the season opener for both teams at the Houston Field House.

Kohler (St. Thomas, ON) stuck home a rebound at 18:01 of the third for the visitor's only goal of the frame. A shot from classmate Sam LaShomb (Inver Grove Heights, MN) was stopped by RPI freshman netminder Lovisa Selander (Sollentuna, Sweden/SDE Riksserien), but the rebound fell to Kohler for her first of the year.

RPI opened the scoring at 6:19 of the first period, when senior Alexa Gruschow (Mechanicburgh, PA/Washington Pride) redirected a shot by classmate Lauren Wash (Belle Mead, NJ/New Jersey Rockets) past UND senior goaltender Shelby Amsley-Benzie (Warroad, MN). Sophomore Whitney Renn (Troy, MI/Little Caesars) picked up the secondary assist.

The hosts doubled their lead six minutes later, thanks junior Laura Horwood's (Belleville, ON/Durham West Lightning) first of the season. After her wrap around attempt was kept out, she jumped on the rebound and ripped a shot into the top left corner of the net.

North Dakota fought back to the tie game, scoring at 12:56 of the first period and 1:57 of the second. LaShomb got the visitors on the board, before junior Halli Krzyzaniak (Neepawa, MB) knotted the score with her first of two goals on the night.
Krzyzaniak gave UND its first lead of the game at 8:09 of the second period, skating between the circles to pick up a rebound and stick it home. Juniors Amy Menke (Shakopee, MN) and Gracen Hirschy (Fort Wayne, IN) earned the helpers on the go-ahead goal.

North Dakota took their one-goal lead into the third period, along with a 25-7 advantage in shots. Selander made a number of game-saving stops in the frame, including a 2-on-0 breakaway chance.

The Engineers drew even at 9:30 of the third period and a slap shot from the right point by freshman Josefine Hansen (Princeton Junction, NJ/Shattuck St. Mary's) that made its away inside the right post. Her first collegiate tally was assisted by Horwood and Gruschow.

Selander finished with 34 saves in her first RPI start. Amsley-Benzie had 11 stops at the other end of the ice.

IMPROVED POWER PLAY:
The Engineers went 1 for 5 on the power play, after going 0 for 11 at UND last year.

FIRST GOAL:
Josefine Hansen scored her first collegiate goal in the third period.

THREE POINT NIGHT:
Senior Alexa Gruschow scored a goal and had two assists for a game. She had her hand in all three RPI tallies.

BIG SAVES:
Freshman Lovisa Selander made a number of big saves on the second period. She stopped a 2-on-0 break, as well as a trio of 1-on-1 denials of UND attackers.

UP NEXT:
The two teams are back in action tomorrow afternoon for a 3pm puck drop at the Houston Field House.