The women Engineers finally made their strong and smart play pay off on the scoreboard. While earlier games ended in disappointment after outplaying an opponent yet still ending up on the losers’ side of the scorecard, the team finished two well-played games on top two weekends ago, devastating Sacred Heart 7-1 and 10-2. “I think that last weekend our team played well,” said sophomore standout Nicole McDonald. “We were able to maintain our systems—breakouts, forecheck, cycling, etc—and worked very well as a team and with our lines. We had all four lines working well and putting some goals in the net, and strong play from the defense with offensive rushes and good regrouping.”
The ECACHL didn’t wait long to award its newest members for their success. Freshman Whitney Naslund was named Rookie of the Week and junior Brooke Thompson was named to the weekly Honor Roll.
Both managed to tally six points over the weekend. Naslund had a goal and five assists, while Thompson had two goals and four assists. “I would say that our line is clicking,” said Thompson. “I mean regardless of the points this weekend, I think all three of us work very well together and I know they complement me as a player.”
It’s not just their line that’s coming together; McDonald recorded a hat trick just three minutes into the second period of Saturday’s game. “I was happy to get my first hat trick,” she said, “but I can’t take all the credit for it, my linemates set me up for all the goals; the first two were rebounds from solid shots, and the third was a perfect pass from [freshman] Alli Wright through the crease for a back door shot.”
Friday’s game was all Engineers as they outshot the Pioneers 63-8 with sophomore Jamie-Lynn Stewart scoring first for her sixth of the year. Freshman Allysen Weidner, assisted with Thompson on the play, and was the next to score. Weidner’s power play goal was assisted by Naslund and Thompson.
Although the game was tightened by a Pioneers goal at 14:09 in the first, the Engineers were soon running away with the game. Sophomore Melissa Boik scored next, assisted by senior captain Sarah Daniel and sophomore Jaime Jacquard-Sowa. It was Daniel’s turn to score next in the middle of the second, with assists by sophomore Emily Donowick and junior Julie Aho.
The third period saw three more RPI goals as freshman Rossli Chace, Weidner and Aho all scored. Aho’s score came in with just 19 seconds left on the clock.
Saturday was more of the same, as the team improved to 5-10-0 on the season with another blowout. Naslund and McDonald netted goals in the first, followed by four more in the second, first by Thompson, then two more to complete the hat trick for McDonald. “I was really happy with my line’s play,” she said. “We worked the puck well, put up some goals, but really just saw each other and were making passes that we hadn’t seen before.” Freshman Yodi Yaworski hit the twine a final time, putting the Engineers ahead 6-0 going into the final period of play.
An unassisted goal by Sacred Heart’s Michelle Panella was in at 4:01 into the third, but freshman Allison Wright and Thompson responded to bring it to 8-1 on the scoreboard. After another Pioneers goal, Sarah Daniel scored twice in just 33 seconds, with help from Aho and Donowick on both goals.
The weekend’s results show that the work that has gone into this program is paying off and the ECAC recognizes that RPI’s record does nothing to show what this team is made of. “As we go deeper into the season, we are starting to pick up momentum,” said Thompson. “Things are coming together and lines are clicking for us. Earlier in the season we were still outplaying teams but the results did not show it, now things are starting to become much more normal for the team and we are finishing games from a third period perspective. We definitely respect the puck more!”
McDonald agrees that this weekend was important in that the team now had experience to figure out what’s happening on the ice and make immediate adjustments. “I think everyone was really happy with our play this weekend, only a few times did we forget our systems and cheat on the offense, but the good thing is that we were able to realize that and get ourselves right back on track.”
Friday and Saturday will again be an opportunity for the team to prove that it can play all three periods and continue to pick up momentum as it attempts to come out with league wins. “I think the whole team is excited to have some home games against some good teams,” said McDonald. “We are looking forward to some good competition, although we aren’t worried or intimidated, we are going to play our game, we’ve been working hard in practice, and can’t wait to hit the ice.”
“We’re on a pretty good stretch, 4 for 6, and figuring how we want to play,” said Head Coach John Burke. ”We’re looking forward to getting back to league play, and the first ECAC on our campus.”
Thompson agreed, “I think this weekend will be another big test for us; Cornell and Colgate are solid teams, to beat them we will need everyone going this weekend. Last year Rosina [Schiff ’06] stood on her head and we had really clutch goals for our win and tie against Colgate. We will need a great team effort and smart play this weekend. I’m very excited for it.”
