Engineers Complete Weekend Exhibition Sweep

Photo by Sara Melikian

Box Score

TROY, N.Y. - Freshman Alisa Harrison (Vienna, VA/Washington Pride) and junior Allysen Weidner (Wichita, KS/Shattuck St. Mary's) both tallied two goals each to lead the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) women's ice hockey team to a 5-1 victory over the Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres in exhibition action at the Houston Field House. RPI, which defeated Toronto on Friday night, now prepares for its regular season opener next Friday against Hockey East foe Northeastern.

After a scoreless opening period, the Engineers got on the board at 3:22 as Weidner scored her second goal in as many days. Collecting a pass from linemate Whitney Naslund (Bloomington, MN/Bloomington Jefferson) in the slot, Weidner went top shelf on Stoney Creek goalie Jenesica Drinkwater, tucking the puck up under the crossbar.

Senior Melissa Boik (Allen Park, MI/Michigan Capitals) made it a two-goal advantage for the home team less than a minute later on the power play after her shot from the point sailed over Drinkwater's left shoulder and in at 4:15. Classmate Jamie-Lynn Stewart (Cambridge, ON/Cambridge Jr. Fury) was credited with the assist.

The visiting Sabres cut the RPI lead to one (2-1) at the 9:40 mark as Kelly Sabatine banged home her own rebound past Engineers goalie Ashley Mayr (Burnaby, BC/BC Breakers) for the power play tally.

Rensselaer regained its two-goal advantage minutes later as Harrison collected a cross-ice pass from junior Allison Wright (Oakville, ON/Oakville Ice) for a short-handed tally at 11:00.

Weidner and Harrison rounded out the scoring in the third period for the Engineers as both converted on power play opportunities. Naslund and freshman Amanda Castignetti (Anchorage, AK/Shattuck St. Mary's) earned the assists on Weidner's goal, which came at 12:15 off a wrist shot in the slot.

Freshmen Sierra Vadner (Apple Valley, MN/Minnesota Thoroughbreds) and Jill Vandegrift (St. Paul, MN/Minnesota Thoroughbreds) were credited with the helpers on Harrison's goal. Vadner took the shot from the far point into traffic where it was rebounded by Harrison at 14:00.

Between the pipes, Mayr made 11 stops on the afternoon to earn the win. Drinkwater had 37 saves in the loss for Stoney Creek. RPI held the advantage in a number of categories, including a 42-12 advantage in shots on goal.

The Engineers open their regular season schedule next weekend when it hosts Northeastern on Friday (7pm). That game is "Pack the House Night" in which RPI looks to break its own women's attendance record of 1,300 fans, originally set in the 2006-07 opener against Boston College. Rensselaer then returns to action the following day as they take on Boston University (4pm). Both games will take place at the Houston Field House and will feature live stats at http://sidearmstats.com/rpi/whockey/.