PROVIDENCE, R.I. - First-year Karianne Engelbert scored both goals as the ninth-seeded Union College women's hockey team knocked off eighth-seeded Brown University by a 2-0 score in the opening round of the ECAC Hockey Tournament to secure the first postseason win in program history.
With the win, Union (13-21-1) advances to the ECAC Hockey Tournament Quarterfinals, where the Garnet Chargers will take on top-seeded Cornell (20-4-5) University in a best-of-three series beginning Friday night in Ithaca, N.Y.
The victory marks the second time this season Union has swept three games from an ECAC Hockey opponent, having also swept RPI this season in both the regular season games and in the Mayor's Cup.
Engelbert scored both goals for the Garnet Chargers to give her 15 goals and 24 points on the season, breaking the school Division I record for points by a first-year and matching the school's D-I rookie goal-scoring record. Senior captain Maren Friday assisted on both goals to become the all-time points holder among Union blueliners with 50 career points and junior Stephanie Bourque recorded her 22nd point of the season with an assist, moving into first place on the school's single-season list for points by a blueliner. In addition, senior goaltender Sophie Matsoukas also tied the program record for career shutouts with six.
Brown held a slight offensive advantage recording nine shots to Union's six in the first period. The Garnet Chargers were awarded a power-play opportunity just under seven minutes into the first period, but were unable to capitalize, and the period ended in a 0-0 draw.
Union opened the scoring just 3:35 into the second period on the power play. Bourque received a pass from Friday and sent the puck on net in which Engelbert was able to tip the puck into the back of the net.
The Garnet Chargers killed off a penalty three minutes left in the middle stanza and headed into the third period leading 1-0.
In the third period, Brown put the offensive pressure and continued to edge Union in shots, 11-10. But Matsoukas delivered another excellent performance in goal, including a stellar glove save midway through the final period to keep the Bears at bay.
Brown pulled their goaltender Rory Edwards for an extra attacker just over two minutes left in regulation searching for the equalizer. However, after Friday knocked the puck out of Brown's possession, Engelbert fired the puck down the ice scoring the empty netter to secure the first-ever playoff win for the Garnet Chargers.
Matsoukas delivered an outstanding game, concluding the game with 35 saves.
Union will return to the ice on Friday at 6 p.m. in game one of the best-of-three series against the Big Red at Lynah Rink.