Union Edged by RPI
TROY, N.Y. -- Junior defenseman Melissa Boik broke a scoreless
tie at 13:12 of the third period to lead Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute to a 1-0 victory over area-rival Union College in ECAC
Hockey action this evening. The Engineers improve to 8-8-2 overall
and 3-5-1 in league play while the Dutchwomen fall to 1-15-1 and
0-8-1 in the conference. Brenna Malnar (Soughgate, Mich.) led Union
with three shots.
After two scoreless periods of play, RPI finally capitalized with a
power play goal mid-way through the final stanza. Off a face-off
win by Whitney Naslund, Allison Wright corralled the puck in the
far corner and chipped it out to Boik at the top of the right
circle. Firing a shot through traffic, the puck sailed across
the ice ringing off the left post and in past Union goalie Lundy
Day (Calgary, Alberta).
Despite numerous opportunities in the opening frame for RPI,
including five quick shots on the power play advantage, the
homestanding Engineers could not get past Day, who turned aside all
20 shots.
Solid goaltending continued to be the name of the game in the
second stanza as both teams once again went scoreless. Wright
had the Engineers best opportunity to score in the frame after
stealing the puck from the Union defense and skating away in on a
breakaway.
Freshman Courtney Kerslake (Sarnia, Ontario) nearly put Union up
after finding the puck on her backhand for a quick shot at RPI
goalie Sonja van der Bliek, who posted five saves. Day held
strong, fending off nine Rensselaer shots in the period.
Rensselaer, which outshot Union 45-10 in the game, saw van der
Bliek stop each shot she faced. Day shouldered the loss with
44 saves.
Both teams return to action tomorrow afternoon for a 4pm face-off
in Schenectady at Messa Rink.
