TROY, N.Y. – Junior goaltender Kira Bombay made 29 saves in her first start of the season to lead the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) women’s hockey team to a 1-1 tie with the University of New Hampshire for the second consecutive day. With the draw, the Engineers are 4-6-4, while the Wildcats are now 6-3-5.
Bombay (Orleans, ON/Nepean Wildcats) turned away 10 shots in the second and 14 in the third. She was matched New Hampshire netminder Ava Boutilier (Charlottetown, PEI/Charlottetown Abbies AAA) had 28 stops, with 12 coming the third.
After two scoreless periods, the Wildcats got on the board at 9:49 of the third, when Amy Schlagel (Blaine, MN/Blaine) netted a power play goal on a shot from the top of the right circle. Tori Howran (Bancroft, ON/North Hastings) sent a pass across the top of the zone for Schlagel, who slapped it past Bombay for a 1-0 lead.
The Engineers answered at 12:38 on the first goal of season by sophomore Blake Orosz (Chase Mills, NY/Nepean Wildcats). Freshman Morgan Ondrick (Shorewood, IL/Northern Chicago Young Americans) sent pass to the left side of the cage from behind the net for Orosz, who tapped it home from close range. Sophomore Megan Hayes (Hartford, VT/North American Hockey Academy) picked up the secondary assist.
RPI out-shot the Wildcats, 2-1, in overtime, but neither team was able to break the deadlock. The Engineers went 0 for 4 on the power play, while New Hampshire finished 1 for 6.
The Engineers are back on the ice on Friday, when they open a two-game series at Mercyhurst University. Puck drop is scheduled for 6pm. New Hampshire visits Providence on Wednesday (7pm).
(Photo by Janet Schultz)
