TROY, N.Y. –
Reese Keating turned aside 40 shots while
Michaela Littlewood,
Mia Montanari, and
Georgia Bailey each found the back of the net as the RPI women's hockey team earned a 3-1 victory over No. 9 Clarkson tonight. The win improved the Engineers to 2-13-0 overall and 1-5-0 in ECAC Hockey play.
Clarkson struck first on a power-play goal from Manon Le scodan early in the opening period, but Keating and the Engineers kept the deficit at one despite sustained pressure from the visitors. RPI pulled even later in the frame when Littlewood finished a setup from
Molly Hamilton and
Kami O'Brien for her first goal of the season, sending the teams into the first intermission tied at 1-1.
The Engineers moved in front early in the second period.
Naomi Forand put a shot on goal before Montanari capitalized on the ensuing opportunity, scoring off assists from Forand and
Linn Mattsson to give RPI a 2-1 advantage. The tally was Montanari's third of the season and ultimately stood as the game-winner.
Keating and the RPI penalty kill protected the lead throughout the remainder of the second. Clarkson received three power-play opportunities during the period, including one that carried into the third, but the Engineers kept the visitors off the scoreboard. Keating stopped all 13 shots she faced in the frame as RPI carried its one-goal advantage into the final 20 minutes.
Clarkson continued to apply pressure in the third, but Keating turned aside all 11 shots that reached her. After the Engineers successfully navigated a pair of their own power-play opportunities, Clarkson pulled its goaltender for an extra attacker with under three minutes remaining. Bailey capitalized moments later, scoring an unassisted empty-net goal for her fourth tally of the season to extend the RPI advantage to 3-1.
Keating finished with 40 saves, including 16 in the opening period, 13 in the second, and 11 in the third. RPI blocked 20 additional Clarkson attempts, led by six from
Kendal Davidson, while Littlewood, Montanari, and Bailey supplied the Engineers' three goals. RPI held Clarkson scoreless on its final three power-play chances after surrendering the game's opening goal on the man advantage.
