TROY, N.Y. – Sophomore Cassie Seguin stopped 21 of the 22 shots she faced and Princeton University held off a third period charge to defeat Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), 2-1 in ECAC Hockey action on Friday. With the win, the Tigers improve to 2-4-0 and 2-2-0 in conference play, while the Engineers slip to 2-6-2 and 1-2-0 in ECAC Hockey.

Seguin (Ingleside, ON/Ottawa Senators) came up big for the visitors in the final two periods, stopping eight shots in the second and third to help Princeton hold on for the victory. Her stops in the final period proved critical as RPI played with a 6x5 advantage for the final 1:28 of the game.

Princeton struck first in the opening period as rookie Denna Laing (Marblehead, MA/Noble and Greenough School) scored at 8:03. Skating through the middle slot, forward Olivia Mucha (West Chester, PA/The Hotchkiss School) tapped the puck up to Laing near the goal mouth. She then beat an RPI defender, lifting a shot over the shoulder of Engineers goalie Sonja van der Bliek (Toronto, ON/Toronto Jr. Aeros) for the 1-0 advantage.

Rensselaer had its chances in the first stanza, its best opportunity coming at the 15:18 mark as freshman Toni Sanders (York, PA/Susquehanna Rapids U-19) ducked around a Tigers defender for an open shot at Seguin. Her glove proved too quick as she snatched up the shot to keep it a one-goal lead.

The Tigers added to their lead with 11:45 remaining in the second period on a goal by freshman Sally Butler (Etobicoke, ON/Toronto Jr. Aeros). In a two-on-one situation at the slot, Butler collected a pass from Mucha and took the wide open shot from just outside the crease, making the score 2-0.

Rensselaer got on the board just three minutes later on a power play goal from freshman Jordan Smelker (Anchorage, AK/Team Alaska U-19). Sophomore blueliner Andie Le Donne (Toronto, ON/Durham West Lightning) sent the puck from the top of the near slot to Smelker in the right circle, who then caught the goalie out of position for the wide-open tally. Junior Jill Vandegrift (St. Paul, MN/Minnesota Thoroughbreds) was credited with the second assist.

The third period proved to be a defensive battle for the Tigers as RPI crashed the net with a number of shots in the frame. Holding an 8-1 advantage, the Engineers nearly cashed in during a power play at the 9:50 mark as Sanders got her stick on a rebound to Seguin's left, but the netminder was quick to knock the shot aside.

Rensselaer pulled van der Bliek (15 saves) in favor of the extra-attacker in the final 1:28, but the Tigers blocked a number of shots to keep it in their favor and secure the victory.

The Engineers are back on the ice on Saturday, hosting conference-rival Quinnipiac at 4pm. The Tigers head to Schenectady to take on Union, also at 4pm.