Box Score

STORRS, Conn. – Junior winger Taylor Horton (St. Thomas, ON/Bluewater Jr. Hawks) tallied two goals, including the game-tying marker at 16:22 of the third period to help lift the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute women's hockey team to a 3-3 draw against the University of Connecticut at Freitas Arena.  It was the season-opener for both squads. 

The Engineers headed into the final period on a high note as Horton scored on the power play off at 17:55 of the second stanza, but the momentum was quickly halted just 37 seconds into the third as Rebecca Hewett (Oak Bluff, MB) sent a shot past RPI rookie netminder Brianna Piper (Oakville, ON/Toronto Jr. Aeros) to make it a 3-2 game.

Rensselaer continued to battle, holding an 11-5 edge in shots for stanza and the hard work paid off as Horton fired in her second of the game at 16:22 beyond the reach of UConn's Alexandra Garcia (Point-Claire, PQ).  The Huskies held a 3-0 advantage in shots in the overtime session, but were unable to capitalize.

The homestanding Huskies opened the game's scoring at 10:25 of the first stanza as Caitlin Hewes (Stillwater, MN) scored off an assist from Kelly Horan (Methuen, MA) past Piper for the 1-0 lead.  RPI answered in the second period as senior captain Alisa Harrison (Vienna, VA/Washington Pride) collected a pass from classmate Jill Vandegrift (St. Paul, MN/Minnesota Thoroughbreds) and scored short-handed at 5:34.

Connecticut grabbed the lead back nearly 13 minutes later when Sarah MacDonnell (Quispamsis, NB) scored for the 2-1 advantage.  She was assisted by Kiana Nauheim (Fairbanks, AK) on the tally.  Despite giving up the goal, the Engineers came at the Huskies with a flurry, outshooting the home team by an 8-3 margin.

RPI finished with a 24-17 advantage in shots for the game, backstopped by a 14-save performance from Piper in her collegiate debut.  Garcia had 21 saves for the Huskies.

The same two teams are back on the ice on Saturday in a 3pm tilt at Freitas Arena.