Even with the two victories, the team dropped three spots in the league standings from sixth to ninth as it now trails behind Cornell University, Colgate University, and Yale University. As only the top eight teams will receive invitations to the ECACHL playoffs at the end of February, gaining spots in the standings is essential. RPI is ahead of Brown University, Quinnipiac University, and Union College, and needs to advance just one position in the 10 remaining games this season. There will be ample opportunity for the Engineers to clinch a spot as they will meet every team in the league except their traveling partner, Union.

Friday’s 1-0 victory over Robert Morris nearly went to overtime as the game was scoreless after 55 minutes of hockey at the Field House. With under five minutes left in regulation to play, senior Julie Aho sent a pass to junior defenseman Mel Guillemette waiting in the left circle who then sent the puck past the Colonial’s goalie junior Brianne McLaughlin.

Although they were outshot 13-8 in the first period, the homestanding Engineers held their ground and returned to edge the Colonials 32-31 by the end of the game, with that one shot difference being Guillemette’s goal. Freshman Sonja van der Bliek was strong in net, picking up her third shut-out victory of the season for RPI.

The next afternoon, the teams met again with a similar final result although the journey was not the same. The scoring would come much earlier and more often. The 3-1 victory improved van der Bliek’s own record to 8-3-2 with a .937 save percentage. The loss dropped Robert Morris to 10-13-1 overall on the season.

The scoring started early for the Engineers as Guillemette found the back of the net just 22 seconds into the game. After needing over 55 minutes of play the previous night to light up the scoreboard once, Aho added a second tally for RPI before the first period was over on Saturday. Sophomore Laura Gersten and junior Melissa Boik were credited with assists on Guillemette’s goal, while Guillemette and sophomore Rossli Chace were named on Aho’s goal, the eventual game-winner. Guillemette is now second on the team in points with eight goals and 10 assists on the season. She also leads in penalty minutes with 23.

Although the Colonials were able to beat van der Bliek on the power play midway through the second period to make it 2-1, RPI took the goal back on a power play of their own late in the same period. Adding the assurance goal, Boik released a slapshot from the top of the left circle during RPI’s 5-on-3 advantage to put RPI 3-1 for good. Sophomores Allison Wright and Gersten were given the assists. By the end, RPI had outshot the visiting Colonials 35-21.