Box Score

BURLINGTON, Vt. - The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) women's hockey team held a 2-0 lead, but couldn't hold off the Catamounts as the University of Vermont battled back for a 2-2 tie at Gutterson Fieldhouse on Friday night.  With the draw, the Engineers move to 1-0-2 on the young season, while the Catamounts are now 0-0-2 overall.

RPI struck first to open the game as sophomore Toni Sanders (York, PA/Susquehanna Rapids 19U) scored off a pass from classmate Madison Marzario (Prior Lake, MN/Shattuck-St. Mary's) just 2:22 into the opening period.  Rookie Ali Svoboda (Arlington Heights, IL/Chicago Mission) earned the secondary assist on the goal, which was Sanders' first of the season.

The Engineers struck again at 7:33 of the second stanza as senior captain Alisa Harrison (Vienna, VA/Washington Pride) netted her team-leading third of the season.  She connected for the goal off a pass from linemate Jill Vandegrift (St. Paul, MN/Minnesota Thoroughbreds).  Sophomore winger Jordan Smelker (Anchorage, AK/Team Alaska 19U) was credited with the second assist.

Vermont closed the gap late in the period as Brittany Zuback converted a pass from Delia McNally at 17:51 to make it a 2-1 game in RPI's favor heading into the final stanza.

The Catamounts then netted the equalizer just 3:23 into the third as Amanda Pelkey scored short-handed.  She was assisted by Megan Bergland and Megan Dalbec on the game-tying goal.

Between the pipes, RPI rookie netminder Brianna Piper (Oakville, ON/Toronto Jr. Aeros) earned the draw with 33 saves.  Her counterpart, Kelci Lanthier stopped 22 shots in the Catamounts net.

The two teams meet once again on Saturday afternoon in a 4pm tilt at Gutterson Fieldhouse.