TROY, N.Y. – Rensselaer sophomore Blake Orosz scored in the second period to cut the Big Red lead to one goal, but the Engineer effort fell just short on senior day in a 2-1 loss to #5 Cornell.
 
Following this afternoon's game, seniors Marisa Raspa, Whitney Renn, Amanda Kimmerle and Shayna Tomlinson were recognized for their four years of commitment to the Engineer program. This group of seniors led the Engineers to two consecutive ECAC Hockey Quarterfinals, the Inaugural Capital District Mayor's Cup title and a 2-1 upset over #4 Clarkson in 2015. This group of young women are all three-time ECAC Hockey All-Academic selections while each earning multiple Dean's List honors. Tomlinson finishes her career ranked 17th in career assists while Kimmerle's 138 appearances place her 12th in career contests in Engineer history.
 
Six and half minutes into the game, the Cornell (19-7-3, 15-5-2 ECACH) bench was charged with too many players on the ice. The Big Red, who have the top ranked kill percentage in the country, intercepted a RPI (9-19-6, 6-13-3 ECACH) pass in the neutral zone. Jaime Bourbonnais (Mississauga, Ontario) carried the puck up the right side and then passed it to Paige Lewis (New Canaan, Conn.) 15 feet in front of the Engineer net. Lewis buried a shot top shelf to put Cornell up 1-0.  Lewis' goal was the Big Red's seventh shorthanded goal of the year, while it was the second time this year Rensselaer was scored on while up a skater.
 
The second period opened with both sides exchanging chances. Both teams had six shots on goal until Rensselaer senior Whitney Renn was charged with checking 11:38 into the period. 12 seconds into the Big Red's third power play of the game, Cornell's Madlynne Mills (Sewickley, Penn.) had the puck in the left corner. The freshman passed the puck along the boards to Brianna Veerman (Burlington, Ontario) behind the goal line. The senior bounced a pass off the back of the cage to Kristin O'Neill (Oakville, Ontario). The sophomore wrapped the puck around the post and scored Cornell's second goal of the game.
 
With four minutes left in the second period, RPI's Makenna Thomas stole the puck from the Big Red at center ice. The junior took the puck to the center of the faceoff circle, and then ripped a shot towards Cornell netminder Marlene Boissonnault (Dundee, New Brunswick). The junior saved the shot off her chest, and Thomas followed the rebound with a diving effort to put the puck over the goal line between the pipes. The call on the ice was a goal, but the call was reverse upon an official review.
 
With under a minute until the second intermission, Jaimie Grigsby gathered the puck in the Engineer end who then played the puck to Tomlinson at center ice. The senior went straight to goal and tried to score between Boissonnault's legs, but the junior netminder saved Tomlinson's shot.
 
With 27 seconds on the clock, Thomas won a faceoff in the Cornell zone. The puck found Orosz at the top of the circle who slapped a shot to the top left corner to make the score 2-1 in favor the Big Red.
 
The Engineers outshot Cornell 10-8 in the third period, but RPI couldn't tie the game before the buzzard.
 
Boissonnault (19-5-3) was credited the win on 29 saves while Rensselaer's Kira Bombay (0-3-1) picked up the loss with 26 saves.
 
RPI, who outshot Cornell 30-28, is 3-4-5 when outshooting their opponents. This afternoon's game was the seventh time Rensselaer faced a nationally ranked team this season, with four of those seven games resulting in a one goal decision.
 
The Engineers end the season in 9th place in the ECACH with a 15 point season.