Box Score

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – Head coach Josh Sciba captured his first win as head coach of the Niagara women’s hockey team (1-4-0, 0-0-0 CHA) in dramatic fashion when sophomore forward Kristin Richards capitalized on a penalty shot in overtime to beat the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Engineers 5-4 on Friday night. 

Tied at four after three periods of play, Richards went in one-on-one with RPI goalie Brianna Piper, quickly switched from backhand to forehand before stuffing the puck on the right post, while being hooked by  Engineer Andie Le Donne. A penalty shot was awarded for Niagara, with Richards mirroring the previous shot before lifting the puck past RPI goaltender Brianna Piper for the game winner.

“I am very proud of the girls”, Sciba said.  “It’s nice a nice way to get their first win of the season, especially coming back from two goals behind.  The team played very well.  Everyone made a contribution in some way.  RPI is a tough team to play and it will be hard to face off against them tomorrow.”    

RPI (2-1-2, 0-0-0 ECAC) held a 4-2 lead going into the third period, but the Purple Eagles battled back to tie the game with just 6:27 remaining.  Sophomore forward Jessica Hitchcock pounced on her own rebound and lifted the puck into the top right corner to cut the lead by one at 11:12. 

Just over two minutes later, a shot from junior Jenna Hendrikx flew past Piper’s right side just over two minutes later tying the game at four and sending the teams into overtime. 

The visiting team struck first in the game when freshman Taylor Horton picked up a shot by forward Eleeza Cox in the front of the net and poked it past starting Niagara goalie Sarah Moses.  The Engineers made it a two goal lead one minute into the second stanza as senior forward Jill Vandegrift scored her first of the season.  

Freshman forward Kelsey Gunn got Niagara on the board first from a shot through traffic and sophomore Richards followed suit with a laser from the right circle off a feed from Erica Owczarczak. The period ended as it started, with RPI regaining lead with a goal from sophomore Jordan Smelker to make it a 3-2 game. 

Moses also tallied her first win as a Purple Eagle as she made 24 saves on the game.

The Purple Eagles will conclude its two-game series with the Engineers on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m.