SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – For the second straight game, first-year
Riley Walsh netted the overtime winner with 58 seconds remaining as the Union College women's hockey team pushed their unbeaten streak to three straight games with a 3-2 win over Rochester Institute of Technology on Friday afternoon at Messa Rink.
Walsh scored her team-leading sixth goal of the season and her second straight game-winning goal, becoming the first player in program history to score multiple overtime winners in a season.
Junior
Celeste Beaudoin and sophomore
Paige Greco each found the score sheet with goals. Classmate
Ashley Adams chipped in with two assists, seniors
Emily King and
Carmen Merlo also tallied assists, and first-years
Stephanie Bourque and
Maren Friday also added assists.
The win improves Union's unbeaten streak to three games, the longest since December 2014 when the Dutchwomen also went unbeaten for three games (2-0-1).
The Tigers broke the scoreless tie with 3:30 to go in the first period, when Amy Dobson found the loose puck on top of the crease and buried it past sophomore
Sophie Matsoukas for a 1-0 lead. Union outshot RIT 14-11 in the period. Union went 0-1 on the power-play and 1-2 on the penalty kill.
The Dutchwomen turned the tide late in the second period, scoring twice on the power play to take the lead. Following a hooking penalty to RIT's Bailey Kehl, Union won the face off and Greco scored on a high slot by tipping home a shot pass from Merlo. After the Tigers were called for body checking, Union scored again 90 seconds later when Beaudoin collected a pass from Bourque and beat goalie Sarah Coe under the glove on a wrist shot from the top of the circle. This was Beaudoin's third goal of the season, with King and Bourque earning the assists.
Union led 27-22 in the shot category after 40 minutes went 2-2 on the penalty kill and 2-3 on the power-play.
The Tigers and Dutchwomen traded chances in the third period, with Union holding onto its one-goal lead until the final minute.RIT found the back of the net with the extra attacker on with 57 seconds to go in the period to tie the score at two and send Union to overtime for the third straight contest.
RIT had a great chance to win the game in overtime when Union was whistled for a penalty, but the home team killed off the four-on-three to keep the score tied. As each team traded shots and chances looking for the game winner, Friday won a puck battle on the near side and chipped the puck to Adams. Adams raced up the ice with Friday and Walsh. Adams' wrist shot was initially saved and Walsh from one knee buried the rebound over the goalie's glove for the game winner.
The Dutchwomen improved to 5-5-1 overall and have equaled their win total from a year ago. Union out shot RIT 43-36 in the game. The Dutchwomen went 2-4 on power-play opportunities. The penalty kill went 5-6 on the night, including a massive 5-on-3 kill in the second period and another penalty kill again in overtime.
Matsoukas stopped 34 of 36 shots to earn her fifth win of the season.
Union (5-5-1, 1-2-1) and RIT will get back on the ice tomorrow beginning at 3 p.m. at Messa Rink. Union will take part in their Pink At The Rink game tomorrow, the first 1,500 fans to the game will be given a rally towel courtesy of New Country Lexus of Latham.
