ALBANY, N.Y. — During a scoreless first two periods of play, both defenses proved to be unstoppable. The Dutchwomen were eager to get the game scoring started, and scored two goals in the last few minutes of play to seal the deal and claim their first Mayors' Cup trophy over RPI, 2-0, at Times Union Center on Saturday afternoon.

Even though the Union College women's hockey team outshot the Engineers by a 24-9 margin in the first two frames, RPI's goaltender, Amanda Rampado, stopped all 24 of those shots to keep the game within reach for her team. First-year goaltender Bella McKee did the same for Union and stopped all 16 shots en route to her first career shutout and second straight win. With the Mayors' Cup in hand, the Dutchwomen continue the season with a 5-15-5 record (5-7-3 ECACH), while the Engineers have yet to find their first win as team and fall to 0-26-1 (0-16-0 ECACH).

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

• 14:43 3rd (Union 1-0) | Junior Angelica Melone grabbed the puck off the rebound of an RPI shot on goal and gave it sophomore Grace Heiting, who was waiting at the edge of the circle and scored. Heiting's goal, the game-opener, is her fifth of the season and her second straight.
• 19:51 3rd (Union 2-0) | Just when you thought the scoring was over, first-year forward Carmen Merlo dangled it in, after grabbing the puck from an RPI player. Merlo's goal, her second of the season, was unassisted to seal the win for Union.

GAME NOTES:

• Union had the advantage in shots on goal, 36-16. Heiting led all players in the game, with 8 individually.
• McKee made 16 saves in the game to claim her first career shutout and the fifth win on the season.
• Senior Cheyenne Harris and first-year forward Leah Herrfort, both went +2 on the afternoon.
• With the win, the Dutchwomen currently sit at 7th in the ECAC, ahead of Quinnipiac, St. Lawrence, Brown, and RPI.

WHAT'S NEXT:

The Dutchwomen will play a make-up game in the schedule and will host the Saint Lawrence Saints on Tuesday, January 28, at Messa Rink. Puck drop for the last game of January is at 6 p.m. in Schenectady.