SCHENECTADY, NY – Sophomore center #Callee Heywood# scored her first goal of the season and sparked a late third period rally that fell short as the Dutchwomen lost to Rensselear, 2-1, on Sunday afternoon. Hockey great Theoren Fleury was in attendance in Union's corner. The 16-year NHL veteran spoke with the team before, during and after the contest.

 

Fleury's presence didn't overshadow the loss of Union's volunteer assistant coach George Morrison to brain cancer earlier in the week. The Dutchwomen honored Morrison before the game with a moment of silence and by wearing special “GM” stickers on their helmets.

 

Union, which fell behind 1-0 in the second period, came alive when Heywood won a face off in her defensive end, skated the length of the ice and fired a slap shot five-hole 7:51 into the third period.

 

The two teams played even until the Dutchwomen were called for a hooking call at 13:08. As the power play seconds ticked off the clock, RPI's Jill Vandegrift scored the game-winning goal from in front with just under five minutes remaining.

 

Head coach Claudia Asano elected to pull senior goaltender #Lundy Day#for the last 1:07, allowing Union to put pressure on the RPI defense down low. After the Engineers cleared the zone with 15 seconds remaining, the Dutchwomen were unable to get a final rush. Union drops to 0-13-1 and 0-6-0 in the conference, while RPI improves to 7-5-1 and 4-1-1 in ECAC Hockey play.

 

Vandegrift registered her team's first goal of the game on the power play at 9:16 of the second period. She was setup by junior Laura Gersten and freshman Katie Daniels. Gersten also had an assist on RPI's second goal.

 

Day turned away 31 shots, including 10 in the first, 11 in the second and 10 in the third. At the opposite end, sophomore Sonja van der Bliek made nine saves.

 

Union returns to action in two weeks with a pair of games at Sacred Heart on Nov. 28 and Nov. 29.