Highlights

TROY, N.Y. – The University of Maine women's hockey team scored late in the third period to slip past Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), 2-1, on Friday night at the Houston Field House. With the win, the Black Bears improve to 2-1 overall, while the Engineers drop to 0-3.

Maine broke a 1-1 tie at 14:11 of the third, when junior Cailey Hutchison (Hicksville, NY/Northwood School) broke into the RPI zone and fired a shot on goal that deflected in off an Engineers defender after junior goaltender Lovisa Senlander (Sollentuna, Sweden/SDE Riksserien) made the initial save.

Rensselaer then lifted Selander for an extra attacker with 1:20 to play, but could not find a way past Black Bears sophomore netminder Carly Jackson (Amherst, NS/Cumberland Blues Jr. B) and the visitors were able to hold on for the one-goal win.

Maine senior Brooke Stacey (Kahnawake, PQ/Ontario Hockey Academy) was credited with the game's open goal at 3:34 of the first period. Her shot from the right circle was stopped by Selander, but the puck wound up on the goal line, uncovered. In an attempt to clear it away, the Engineers inadvertently knocked it in to give the Black Bears an early lead.

After a scoreless second period, RPI drew even just 26 seconds into the third. Sophomore Megan Hayes (Hartford, VT/North American Hockey Academy) found freshman blueliner Madeleine Burnett (London, ON/Bluewater Hawks) at the left point and her slap shot rang off the inside of the right pipe and into the net. Sophomore Blake Orosz (Chase Mills, NY/Nepean Wildcats) picked up the secondary assist on Burnett's first collegiate tally.

Selander (0-3) finished with 34 saves, while Jackson (2-1) had 21 stops at the other end of the ice. RPI was 0 for 3 on the power play and the Black Bears ended up 0 for 1.
Both teams are back in action tomorrow afternoon for game two of the series. Puck drop is set for 2:30pm.