TROY, N.Y. – The Princeton University women's hockey team built a 3-0 lead held on for a 3-2 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), on Saturday at the Houston Field House. With the win, the Tigers improve to 15-4-1 overall (9-4-1 ECAC Hockey), while the Engineers drop to 5-11-4 (3-5-2 ECAC Hockey).

Princeton senior Jaimie McDonell (East York, ON/Toronto Jr. Aeros) opened the scoring at 6:31 of the first period, burying a one-timer from right between the circles. Junior Kelsey Koelzer (Horsham, PA/New Jersey Rockets) and freshman Keiko DeClerck (San Jose, CA/US U19) picked up the assists on McDonell's fourth goal of the year.

Junior Molly Contini (Arthur, ON/KW Rangers) made it 2-0 at 3:36 of the second, sticking home a rebound after freshman Karlie Lund's (Eden Prairie, MN/Blake School) shot was turned away by RPI freshman goaltender, Lovisa Selander (Sollentuna, Sweden/SDE Riksserien).

Less than five minutes later, the visitors took a 3-0 lead, when junior Cassidy Tucker (Plymouth, MI/Little Caesars) went upstairs to beat Selander from just outside the crease. Helpers on Tucker's seventh goal of the season went to Lund and Koelzer.

RPI drew to within 3-1 at 3:25 of the third, thanks a rebound goal by junior Katie Rooney (Buffalo, MN/Buffalo High School). Senior Mari Mankey (Hopkins, MN/Hopkins High School) had her initial shot stopped at the goal mouth by Princeton senior goalie Kimberly Newell (Vancouver, BC/Canada U19), but the puck fell to Rooney, was able to stick home her sixth goal of the campaign.

Freshman Makenna Thomas (Hartland, WI/Chicago Young Americans) then redirected feed from junior Hannah Behounek (Minnetonka, MN/Minnetonka High School) past Newell with the inside of her left skate to make it 3-2. Sophomore Whitney Renn (Troy, MI/Little Caesars) also assisted on the power play tally, which came at 16:30 of the third period.

The Engineers lifted Selander for an extra skater with just over a minute to play, but Newell and the Tigers defense was able to shut the door for the one-goal victory.

Selander (4-10-4) finished with 31 saves, while Newell (11-3-1) had 19 at the other end of the ice. After getting out-shot 30-9 in the first two periods combined, the Engineers posted a 12-4 advantage in the third period.

RPI went 1 for 3 on the power play, while Princeton was 1 for 4.

SHORT END OF THE STICK:                                                   
RPI drops to 2-4 in one-goal games this season, following the 3-2 defeat at the hands of Princeton.

NEARLY RANKED:
Princeton is not ranked in the USCHO.com Top 10, but it's 12 votes are the most among the non-ranked.

TOUGHEST WEEKEND:
The Engineers played the first and second place teams in ECAC Hockey this weekend, tying fourth-ranked Quinnipiac (0-0) and falling by a single goal to Princeton (3-2).

UP NEXT:
The Engineers are back in action next weekend, when they play a home-and-home series with area-rival Union College, which begins on Friday at the Houston Field House (3pm). RPI travels to Schenectady on Saturday (3pm).
Princeton is off until January 25, when it travels to Connecticut for a non-league contest (7pm).