Box Score

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – For the second consecutive day, the Niagara women’s hockey team (2-4-0, 0-0-0 CHA) came back from a two goal deficit, scoring three unanswered goals for a 3-2 win over the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Engineers (2-2-2, 0-0-0 ECAC) on Saturday afternoon. 

Junior forward Kelsey Welch netted her second of the season with 5:43 left in the third period to give the Purple Eagles their second win of the season.  Defender Erin Burns took a shot from the left point into traffic and Welch was in the mix to put the puck in the back of the net. 

“It was another character win,” said head coach Josh Sciba.  “I think we have a young team, but they’re starting to learn how to play and compete late in the game.  What I want them to do better is I’d like them to play with the lead, but we’re doing a good job of coming from behind.  Abby played well the second half of the game to get her first win, but everyone competed again."

The Engineers would strike first at the 14:32 mark of the opening period when sophomore forward Toni Sanders fired a shot from the near boards just inside the blue line beating Niagara netminder Abby Ryplanski, glove side.  Senior Laura Guillemette made it a two goal game less than four minutes later, assisted by Toni Sanders and Ali Svoboda. 

The Purple Eagles would close out the first 20 minutes with a goal, 46 seconds left in the period.  Sophomore forward Jessica Hitchcock went in on the breakaway, but couldn’t get the shot off as she lost control.  The puck trickled towards the net before junior forward Jenna Hendrikx pushed it past RPI netminder Brianna Piper.  Niagara outshot RPI 8-6 in the opening period. 

Niagara would tie the game just 2:26 into the second stanza.  Piper saved a wrister from sophomore Kaleigh Chippy, but couldn’t stop the follow-up shot by sophomore May Wilkerson.

Purple Eagles goaltender Ryplanski stopped 22 shots. 

It was a weekend of firsts for the Purple Eagle team.  Sciba earned his first win as head coach of the women’s hockey team as well as his first weekend sweep.  Both Niagara netminders, freshmen Ryplanski and sophomore Sarah Moses earned their first career wins in between the pipes.  Wilkerson scored her first career goal as a Purple Eagle in today’s game.   

The Purple Eagles return to Dwyer Arena on Oct. 18 to face-off with St. Lawrence at 7 p.m.