Engineers Grab First Victory
TROY, N.Y. - Powered by goals in the first and
the third periods, the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)
women's hockey team defeated Boston University, 2-0, in
non-conference action at the Houston Field House. The win, which
was the first of the season for the Engineers, brings their record
to 1-1-0. The Terriers fall to 1-1-0.
It was the Engineers who struck first in the opening period as
sophomore left winger Kendra Dunlop's (Granum, AB/Warner Hockey
School) shot from the left circle rifled over the shoulder of
Terriers' goalie Allyse Wilcox (Grand Blanc, MI/Honeybaked) at
12:17. Junior center Whitney Naslund (Bloomington, MN/Bloomington
Jefferson) started the play after she won the face off in the
neutral zone and sent it back to freshman defenseman Sierra Vadner
(Apple Valley, MN/Minnesota Thoroughbreds), who chipped it up to
Dunlop for the score.
Though no goals were scored in the middle stanza, Boston
University put the pressure on, outshooting RPI, 11-9, in the
period. Both teams saw ample chances to bury the puck, but the
Engineers defense held strong, blocking a number of shots.
Netminder Sonja van der Bliek (Toronto, ON/Toronto Jr. Aeros) made
several solid stops, including a close range wrister off the stick
of Terriers' freshman Jenelle Kohanchuk (Winnipeg, MB/Balmoral
School), whose second shot immediately after was blocked by senior
defender Melissa Boik (Allen Park, MI/Michigan Capitals).
In the third period, Rensselaer added an insurance goal after a
junior right winger Allysen Weidner (Wichita, KS/Shattuck St.
Mary's) put one past Wilcox at 18:53. Classmate Allison Wright
(Oakville, ON/Oakville Ice) started the play when she chipped the
puck up the senior center Jamie-Lynn Stewart (Cambridge,
ON/Cambridge Jr. Fury) in the neutral zone.
With time winding down on the clock, Boston University attempted
to pull its goaltender, but Stewart caught the move and sent a
quick shot up to a speeding Weidner. Settling the puck, Weidner
ducked around Wilcox as she attempted to get back into the net, for
her first tally of the season.
The Terriers did pull Wilcox for the final 59 seconds, but could
not solve van der Bliek, who finished with 23 saves in the victory.
Wilcox made 33 saves, including 13 in the first period, to shoulder
the loss.
RPI returns to action next Saturday when it travels to Boston
College for a 4pm face-off against the Eagles. Boston University is
back on the ice next Friday and Saturday, hosting Mercyhurst for a
two-game set.













