BURLINGTON, Vt. – Bella Parento scored less than two minutes into overtime to lead the University of Vermont women's hockey team to a 3-2 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), on Friday night at Gutterson Fieldhouse. With the win, the Catamounts open the season at 1-0, while the Engineers drop to 0-3.

Parento received an outlet pass from Maddy Skelton and walked in alone on RPI netminder Amanda Rampado, sticking the puck past her at 1:56 of the extra session. Corinne McCool picked up the secondary assist on the game-ending tally.

Vermont got the scoring started at 13:52 of the first period, when Tynka Patkova buried a cross-crease pass from Natalie Mlynkova. Skelton got the play started for the first of her two helpers on the night.

The Engineers evened the score at 1-1 early in the second period on the first collegiate tally by Audrey McCutcheon. Walking up the left wing boards, she rifled a shot into the top left corner at 2:12 of the middle stanza. Juniors Marah Wagner and Ramado were credited with the assists.

RPI took a brief lead at 9:54 of the second, when sophomore Riena Jahnke stuffed home a rebound after driving the net from the side. Junior defenseman Hannah Price collected the primary assist by taking a shot from the right point, while Teeghan Dalby had the secondary.

Theresa Schafzahl equalized quickly for the hosts, one-timing a shot past Rampado just 22 seconds after the Engineers scored. Alyssa Holmes delivered the cross-ice pass, while Antonia Matzka added a helper on the play.

Blanka Skodova (1-0) made four saves to earn the rare relief goaltender win, taking over for Jessie McPherson in the third period. Rampado (0-3) had 29 stops at the other end of the ice.

Both teams are back in action tomorrow afternoon for game two of the weekend series (3pm).