TROY, N.Y. – The RPI women's hockey team erased three separate deficits behind goals from
Kendal Davidson,
Barbora Cerna-Proskova, and
Mia Montanari, but Maine pulled ahead midway through the third period and added a late empty-net tally to earn a 5-3 victory over the Engineers tonight at Houston Field House.
Maine opened the scoring on the power play early in the first period before RPI answered just over two minutes later. Davidson found the back of the net off assists from
Megan Meola and
Keira Johnson for her first goal of the season, pulling the Engineers even at 1-1.
The visitors regained the lead midway through the opening frame when Oda Bruland Austefjord scored unassisted, but RPI responded once again. Cerna-Proskova finished a setup from
Aylah Cioffi and
Naomi Forand to level the contest at 2-2 heading into the first intermission.
RPI generated several opportunities in the second period, including a pair of power plays, but Maine moved back in front when Mackenzie Podewell scored at the midway point of the frame. The Engineers put seven shots on goal during the period but entered the second intermission trailing 3-2.
The Engineers needed just 25 seconds of the third period to draw even for a third time. Montanari finished off a feed from
Georgia Bailey for her second goal of the season, bringing RPI level at 3-3.
Maine broke the tie later in the period when Podewell scored her second goal of the night to give the visitors a 4-3 advantage. RPI continued to push for another equalizer and pulled
Sadie Bellissimo for the extra attacker in the closing minutes, but Raegan Wurm scored into the empty net to account for the final margin.
Bellissimo finished with 19 saves for the Engineers. Montanari led RPI with five shots on goal, while Davidson and
Kaylynn Fisher added two apiece. Bailey won a game-high 15 faceoffs as RPI finished with a 24-21 advantage at the dot.
