STORRS, Conn. - Only nine second remained on the clock when Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute senior Alisa Harrison ripped the puck into the net to hand the University of Connecticut a 1-0 loss at the Freitas Ice Forum on Saturday afternoon. The Huskies finished the season-opening series 0-1-1, while the Engineers left with a record of 1-0-1.
The Harrison goal was set up by junior defenseman Andie Le Donne, who gained the puck at neutral ice and found Harrison on the right wing where she fired the game-winning shot.
One minute in to the game, UConn freshman forward Emily Snodgrass (Eagan, Minn.) dropped a pass to the trailer, classmate Rachel Farrel (Cheshire, Conn.), in the slot. Farrel corralled the puck and put a shot on net that was saved off the goal line by and RPI defender. The Huskies had another scoring opportunity in the first as Farrel stole the puck at neutral ice and led a three-on-one attack that resulted in her putting another shot on net.
Connecticut held a slim advantage in shots on goal as it outshot Rensselaer, 20-19. In net for the Huskies, sophomore Nicole Paniccia (Oakville, Ont.) made her first start of the season and provided 18 saves. For RPI, freshman goaltender Kelly O'Brien made 20 stops for a shutout in her first career appearance.
UConn looks to get back on track as it hits the road for a pair of non-conference games against St. Lawrence and Clarkson on October 8 and 9.