TROY, N.Y. ­­– Junior captain Annika Zalewski notched a goal and an assist to lead the sixth-ranked Colgate University women's hockey team to a 4-1 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), on Saturday afternoon at the Houston Field House. With the win, the Raiders improve to 7-0-1 (2-0-0 ECAC Hockey), while the Engineers drop to 3-6-1 (1-1-0 ECAC Hockey).

After a scoreless first period, junior Breanne Wilson-Bennett (Markham, ON/Toronto Jr. Aeros) followed up her own rebound to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. Sophomore Olivia Zafuto (Niagara Falls, NY/Niagara Jr. Purple Eagles) picked up the lone helper on Wilson-Bennett's third goal of the year.

Less than two minutes later, Colgate struck again, as sophomore Shae Labbe (Calgary, AB/Warner Warriors) finished off a one-timer past RPI sophomore goaltender Lovisa Selander (Sollentuna, Sweden/SDE Riksserien) at the left side of the cage. Labbe's first of the season was assisted on by Zalewski (New Hartford, NY/Buffalo Bisons) and sophomore Jessie Eldridge (Barrie, ON/Toronto Aeros).

Sophomore Bailey Larson (Sycamore, IL/Chicago Mission) finished off the trio of second period goals at 17:26, sweeping home a rebound from the left circle. Senior blueliner Cat Quirion (Lac-Megantic, PQ/Stanstead College) was credited with the lone assist on Larson's fourth goal of the year.

Rensselaer pulled to within 3-1 late in the second, thanks to sophomore Taylor Schwalbe's (Anchorage, AK/Shattuck St. Mary's) first goal of the season. Taking a feed from freshman Sabrina Repaci (Toronto, ON/Toronto Junior Aeros), Schwalbe snuck a shot between Colgate sophomore goalie Julia Vandyk (Cambridge, ON/Cambridge Rivulettes) and the left post. Junior Amanda Kimmerle (Anoka, MN/Anoka High School) earned the secondary assist.

Zalewski capped the scoring, just 48 seconds into the third period. Eldridge and freshman Anonda Hoppner (Carp, ON/Ottawa Lady Sens) had the assists on Zalewski's fourth of the campaign.

Vandyk (6-0-1) finished with 17 saves, while Selander (3-5-1) had 37 stops, including 15 in each of the second and third periods.

Colgate went 1 for 6 on the power play, while RPI was 1 for 4.

The Engineers are back in next weekend, when they travel to Yale and Brown, on Friday (6pm) and Saturday (3pm), respectively.