TROY, N.Y. – The sixth-ranked University of North Dakota women's hockey team jumped out to a 2-0 lead and held off Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), 4-1, in a non-league game at the Houston Field House. With the win, UND improves to 2-0 on the season, while the Engineers drop to 0-2.

The visitors broke onto the scoreboard first, as senior Layla Marvin (Warroad, MN) netter her first of the year. Freshman Rebekah Kolstad (Mankato, MN) and junior Amy Menke (Shakopee, MN) picked up the assist on the goal, which came at 14:06 of the opening stanza.

Senior Meghan Dufault (Winnipeg, MB) doubled the North Dakota lead at 6:28 of the second, ripping a shot off the post and in for first of the season. Helpers went to freshman Anna Kilponen (Orivesi, Finland) and senior Samantha Hanson (White Bear Lake, MN).

RPI freshman Taylor Schwalbe (Anchorage, AK/Shattuck St. Mary's) pulled the hosts within 2-1 at 15:28 of the second, claiming a loose puck and squeezing it past UND junior goalie Lexie Shaw (Troy, MI) from just inside the left circle. Classmate Makenna Thomas (Hartland, WI/Chicago Young Americans) was credited with primary assist, while senior Mari Mankey (Hopkins, MN/Hopkins) had the secondary.

A power play goal off the stick of senior blueliner Sam LaShomb (Inver Grove Heights, MN) provided some insurance for North Dakota at 7:34 of the third. Senior Becca Kohler (St. Thomas, ON) then scored an empty-netter for a 4-1 final.

Rookie netminder Lovisa Selander (Sollentuna, Sweden) made 41 saves for Rensselaer, while Shaw finished with 21.

FIRST COLLEGIATE GOAL:
For the second straight night an RPI player scored their first collegiate goal. Freshman Taylor Schwalbe netted her first in Cherry & White in the second period.

MORE SAVES:
Freshman goaltender Lovisa Selander topped her save total from Friday night (34), recording 41 stops on Saturday, including 17 in the first period alone.

UP NEXT:
RPI hits the road for a two-game series at RIT next weekend. Puck drop is scheduled for 7pm on Friday and 3pm on Saturday.
North Dakota visits Minnesota State-Mankota for a pair next weekend.