SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – Five different players scored for the Union College women's hockey team in defeating Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), 5-1, on Friday night at Messa Rink. With the win, the Dutchwomen improve to 4-17-5 overall (4-7-3 ECAC Hockey), while the Engineers drop to 0-25-1 (0-15-0 ECAC Hockey).
Sophomore Katie Sonntag (Louisville, CO/Pursuit of Excellence) opened the scoring at 16:43 of the first period, when she skated into the left circle and ripped a shot past RPI freshman netminder Ena Nystom (Stavanger, Norway/Ontario Hockey Academy) glove side. Sonntag's seventh goal of the season drew a lone assist from classmate Grace Heiting (Woodbury, MN/Gentry Academy).
RPI pulled even just 10 seconds into the second period, as freshman
Maddy Peterson (Princeton, MN/Princeton) potted her third goal of the year, after stealing the puck at the Union blue line and skating in a breakaway. She deked her way past Union freshman goaltender Bella McKee (Irma, AB/Lloydminster Steelers) and slotted home the marker into an open cage.
The Dutchwomen retook the lead at 5:07 of the frame, when senior Katelynn Russ (Crystal Lake, IL/Chicago Young Americans) stuffed home her own rebound in the middle of the crease for her eighth goal of the year. Breaking into the zone up the left side, she saw her initial shot stopped by Nystrom, but was able to clean up the rebound for the tally. Helpers went to freshmen Leah Herrfort (Palmerston, ON/Cambridge Rivulettes) and Carmen Merlo (St. Louis, MO/Shattuck St. Mary's).
Senior Rachel de Perio (East Amherst, NY/Niagara Purple Eagles) pushed the Union lead to 3-1 at 15:39 of the middle period, lifting a shot from the left circle over the right shoulder of Nystrom for her fifth of the season. The power play goal drew assists from classmates Cheyenne Harris (Minneapolis, MN/Minnesota Jr. Whitecaps) and Ava Reynolds (Aurora, CO/Norther Cyclones).
Just 3:14 into the third, Heiting gave the hosts a 4-1 advantage, rifling a shot into the top right corner of the net from the middle of the slot. The unassisted tally came after the picked up a loose puck at the top of the zone.
Junior Helen Markovic (Embrun, ON/Maple Grove High School) capped the scoring at 10:48 of the third, burying a rebound at the right side of the crease. The goal, which was her second of the season, came after a shot from the left by freshman Emily King (St. Paul, MN/Cretin-Derham Hall). A secondary assist was credited to Reynolds.
McKee (4-14-5) made 17 saves in the victory, while Nystrom (0-17-1) had 37 stops at the other end of the ice, including 14 in the first period alone.
Both teams are back in action tomorrow afternoon for the Third Annual Mayor's Cup at the Times Union Center (3pm).
