The women’s hockey team came into last weekend’s play in a three-way tie for sixth in the UCAA standings desperately seeking victories that would secure them the eighth or better finish required to make the UCAA playoffs.
First up was the Saturday game against the Crusaders of Holy Cross. The game was close for a time, but the Engineers’ offense propelled them to a 4-1 win.
The scoring started at 6:41 into the first period when Forward Jessica Malec sent the puck past the Crusaders’ Jenelle Disanto to put RPI up 1-0. Defenders Kate Adams and Jennifer Scammell were each credited with an assist on the play.
The score remained the same as neither team was able to capitalize on power plays, despite several attempts by each. This frustration characterized much of the second period.
The third would have much more offensive punch, as Forward Andrea Poley connected with Andrea Wadman, who in turn sent the puck to the back of the net. The score, coming just 4:13 into the third, upped the Engineers’ lead to 2-0 and seemed to hit the Crusaders’ panic button.
Two minutes later, the Crusaders managed their first score of the night as Forward Elizabeth Campbell took the puck from behind the net and came around to beat RPI’s Laura DeNuccio, sending the puck through the five hole.
Some six minutes later, the Engineers put the game away as Wadman slammed home a rebound off a shot by Poley to increase the lead back up to two goals.
RPI added an empty-netter in the closing seconds to make the final score 4-1.
On Sunday the Engineers took on the Ephs of Williams, one of the ECAC’s top teams. Despite getting out in front early, RPI couldn’t sustain the lead and fell by a final of 5-2.
The scoring started early once again for the Engineers when Forward Julie Durham’s shot from the top was redirected by Wadman into the net. Williams responded quickly with a goal less than a minute later. The Engineers fired back when Durham put one in on a pass from Forward Christin Sauca, restoring the Engineers’ 1-point edge.
Unfortunately, the Ephs would score the next 4 goals, and RPI would have no answer. Williams Goalie Monelle Quevillion stopped 13 shots over the last two periods to ensure the win.
This was a setback for the Engineers, who now have one game remaining before the playoffs and are sitting in the ninth spot, needing to move up by one to earn a playoff berth. A good number of things would have to happen for the Engineers to make it—this includes a victory over Middlebury, a team that has been in the top spot in the ECAC for the past five years.
