Box Score

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Powered by a pair of second period goals and a 29 save effort from Sonja van der Bliek, the Rensselaer women's hockey team came-from-behind and held on in the final stanza in a 2-1 win over Syracuse on Friday.  With the victory, the Engineers move to 5-7-4 on the season, while the Orange move to 6-6-1 on the year.

van der Bliek made eight stops in the first and second periods and turned aside 13 shots in the final stanza for the victory.

After a scoreless first period, which saw both teams record eight shots on goal, the homestanding Orange grabbed the 1-0 advantage as sophomore forward Isabel Menard connected on a pass from Akane Hosoyamada at 6:46.  The goal, which came on the power play, was also assisted by Megan Skelly.

The Engineers responded less than six minutes later as junior defenseman Sierra Vadner fired in a shot past netminder Kallie Billadeau at 12:31 to even things up.  Classmate and forward Alisa Harrison, sent the pass out to the right point to earn the primary helper, while rookie forward Missy Mankey was credited with the second assist.

Sophomore Taylor Horton tipped the scales in RPI's favor with less than two minutes remaining in the middle stanza after she converted a pass from Harrison for the eventual game-winner. Skating up from behind the left post, Harrison slid the puck out to Horton, who speeded into the low slow and flipped a shot in to the right corner at 18:33

Despite being outshot 13-6 in the final period, Rensselaer held strong to pick up its first victory since a 4-1 win at Yale on November 12.  The Engineers had gone 0-1-2 since that win. 

In the Orange net, Billadeau posted 19 saves.

The same two teams are back on the ice again on Saturday afternoon in a 2pm face-off at the Tennity Ice Pavillion.