Box Score

TROY, N.Y. – Senior captain Alisa Harrison netted the game-tying goal at 17:52 of the third period and the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) women's hockey team held on for a 1-1 draw against Princeton University in ECAC Hockey action at the Houston Field House.  The Engineers move to 2-5-3 and 0-1-1 in conference play, while the Tigers are now 2-1-1 and 1-0-1 in the league.
 
It was the visiting Tigers that struck first in the opening period as junior Kelly Cooke (Andover, MA/Noble & Greenough) connected just 3:42 into the game.  Senior Paula Romanchuk (San Jose, CA/San Jose Jr. Sharks) got the play started as she slid the puck over from the right post to junior Corey Stearns (Falmouth, MA/Noble & Greenough) on the doorstep.
 
Stearns fired a shot at RPI netminder Brianna Piper (Oakville, ON/Toronto Jr. Aeros), who made the save, but was unable to control as the puck slid out to the left side where Cooke buried it.
 
The Engineers battled back in the second period, holding an 11-7 advantage in shots, but were still unable to light the lamp.  Harrison led the effort in the stanza, posting seven shots, including three on goal.  RPI's best chance came off her stick as she crashed the net down the slot with a quick attempt, but Tigers netminder Rachel Weber (Hudson, WI/Minnesota Thoroughbreds) was up to the task.
 
In the final period, Rensselaer once again continued to attack the net as Harrison and linemate Jill Vandegrift (St. Paul, MN/Minnesota Thoroughbreds) each had a pair of shots in front.  The duo, along with left winger Eleeza Cox (St. Catharines, ON/Ridley College) finally got the Engineers on the board late in the frame.
 
Set up at the bottom of the left circle, Cox's shot was blocked, but came out to Vandegrift in the goal mouth, who fired a quick shot at Weber.  Though the shot was saved, the puck slid out enough for Harrison, who took multiple shots before finally getting the puck under the Tigers goalie and across the line.
 
Piper, who finished with 24 saves in the game, came up big in the final 1:25 of regulation as Princeton's Olivia Mucha (West Chester, PA/Hotchkiss) sped past the RPI defense for a breakaway.  Mucha backhanded a hard shot toward the rookie netminder, who made an outstanding kick-save off her left pad to preserve the tie.
 
Both squads had their chances in the overtime, but the goaltending was key to make it a league draw.  Weber finished the game with 30 saves.
 
Rensselaer is back on the ice next weekend when it hosts St. Lawrence and Clarkson on Friday (7pm) and Saturday (4pm), respectively.  Princeton is also in action next weekend, hosting Brown and Yale.