BURLINGTON, Vt. - Brittany Zuback and Amanda Pelkey scored their first career goals as the Vermont women's hockey team came from behind to tie Rensselaer 2-2 Friday night at Gutterson Fieldhouse.
The Engineers opened the scoring 2:22 into the first period. Toni Sanders scored her first goal of the season on a scramble in front of the net. Sanders gathered a deflected Madison Marzario point shot and beat Vermont goaltender Kelci Lanthier over her left shoulder.
RPI extended its lead on an odd man rush in the Vermont end. Jill Vandergift feathered a pass to Alisa Harrison who cut to the right and shot to her left beating Lanthier top corner. Harrion's team leading third goal of the season gave the Engineers at two-goal lead at the 7:33 mark of the second period.
Vermont struck back late in the second frame. Zuback received a breakout pass from fellow freshman Delia McNally. Zuback took the puck cut into the RPI zone and fired a shot that was deflected by an RPI defenseman. Zuback gathered the rebound in the slot and beat RPI goaltender Brianna Piper with a quick shot along the ice with 2:09 left in the period.
Pelkey completed the Vermont comeback 3:23 into the third period with a short-handed effort. Megan Bergland pushed the puck free along the boards in the Vermont zone, Pelkey collected the puck and with a burst of speed split two Rensselaer defenders. At the blue line Pelkey made a move past the last RPI defender to break in alone on Piper. She went forehand to backhand and found the top corner for her first career goal.
Despite numerous chances neither team was able to score the go-ahead goal in the third period. Vermont had two power play chances in the third but couldn't capitalize.
Lanthier (22 saves) and Piper (24 saves) stood tall in overtime and preserved the tie for their respective teams.
Vermont returns to action Saturday (4 p.m.) against Rensselaer in the final game of its two-game set this weekend.
The University of Vermont Athletic Department will hold its annual Skate with the Cats on Saturday, October 8 following a hockey doubleheader. The women's game against RPI will be followed by the men's hockey team's Green & Gold scrimmage. Fans of all ages are encouraged to bring their skates and join members of the Vermont men's and women's hockey teams on the ice for Skate with the Cats
NOTES: Vermont improves to 8-6-3 all-time against RPI ...Amanda Pelkey, Brittany Zuback, Delia McNally, and Megan Bergland registered their first career points ... Vermont is 0-0-2 this season against ECAC opponents ... Celeste Doucet scored Vermont's last shorthanded goal Oct. 22, 2010 against Yale in a 4-1 win ... Kelci Lanthier who made her first start of the season is 2-5-4 in 11 starts for Vermont ... Check back to UVMAthletics.com for highlights.