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ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Junior netminder Kelly O'Brien made a career-high 44 saves to lead the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) women's hockey team to a, 4-1, victory over St. Cloud State University, this afternoon, in non-league action from the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center. With the win, the Engineers improve to 5-8-1 overall, while the Huskies drop to 2-10-3.

Rensselaer struck first on a great individual effort by sophomore Alexa Gruschow (Mechanicburgh, PA/Washington Pride). Skating up the left wing she found senior captain Jordan Smelker (Anchorage, AK/Team Alaska 19U) in the left circle. After Smelker's shot was blocked, Gruschow picked up the puck and cut the front of the net before wrapping a shot around the right side of St. Cloud junior netminder Julie Friend (Minnetonka, MN), for her third goal of the season.

The Huskies controlled play for much of the opening frame, outshooting the Engineers, 14-7. RPI did generate a handful of chances on the counter attack, including the lone goal of period.

St. Cloud continued to apply pressure in the second period, but couldn't take advantage of a pair of power-plays. The Huskies did generate seven shots on the man-advantage and 15 total shots in the second period, but couldn't sneak one past O'Brien. Friend was hardly tested in the stanza, stopping the two shots she faced.

RPI senior Toni Sanders (York, PA/Susquehanna Rapids U-19) buried her third of the year at 5:16 of the third period to give the visitors a 2-0 lead. Sophomore Lauren Wash (Belle Mead, NJ/New Jersey Rockets) feed the puck from behind the net to Sanders, who flipped a shot into the top left corner. Junior Taylor Mahoney earned the second helper.

The Huskies drew to within 2-1 at 11:04 of the frame, when freshman Payge Pena (Maple Ridge, BC) battled through a scrum at the side of the RPI cage for her second of the season. The power-play goal was assisted by classmate Kelsey Saelens (Winnipeg, MB) and senior Julia Gilbert (Hamermantown, MN).

Wash then netted an insurance goal, on the power-play, at 17:41 of the frame. Classmate Jenn Godin picked off a Huskies clearing attempt at the blue line and skated towards goal. She drew a defender before sliding the puck over to Wash, who fired a shot just under the crossbar, for her fourth of the year.

Junior Ali Svoboda (Arlington Heights, IL/Chicago Mission) capped the scoring with an empty-net goal at 18:13, with assists going to Smelker and sophomore Mari Mankey (Coon Rapids, MN/Hopkins).

The Huskies finished the game with a 45-21 edge in shots, while going 1 for 5 on the power-play. RPI went 1 for 3 on the man advantage. Friend had 17 saves for St. Cloud.

Both teams are back at it tomorrow afternoon, for game two of the series. Puck drop is once again scheduled for 4:07pm ET.