Final Score: Vermont 4, Rennselaer 2
TROY, N.Y. – Senior forward Amanda Pelkey collected two goals and an assist in the third period to lead Vermont in a come from behind 4-2 win over Rensselaer Saturday afternoon in non-conference action at Houston Field House.
 
Vermont opened the scoring at the 11-minute mark of the first period. After forcing a neutral zone turnover Vermont entered the Engineers zone on a three-on-one rush. Dayna Colang passed over to Brittany Zuback who snapped her first goal of the season past Rensselaer goaltender Kelly O'Brien.
 
After being outshot 13-6 in the first period RPI came out much stronger in the second period. 4:26 into the period they were rewarded as Ali Svoboda tied the game on a nice passing play from the Engineers. Taylor Mahoney won a battle for the puck in the corner and centered a pass that Svoboda tipped past Vermont's Madison Litchfield for her first goal of the season.
 
The Engineers took their first lead of the season with 4:38 left in the second period. Amidst a large scrum of players fighting for the puck just outside of the Vermont crease Mariana Walsh found the puck and slid it home for her first goal of the season. Mari Mankey and Katie Rooney assisted on RPI's go-ahead goal.
 
Vermont equalized 1:35 into the third period on its first power play of the afternoon. Colang kept the puck in at the point and fed a pass to Pelkey who skated around the RPI zone before centering a pass to Zuback who redirected the puck past O'Brien to make it 2-2. It was the Catamounts first power play goal of the season.
 
Just under two minutes later the Catamounts struck again on the power play. Pelkey skated into the slot and fired a slap shot that deflected off a Rensselaer defenseman and in to restore a Catamount lead. Amanda Drobot picked up her first career collegiate point with an assist on the goal.
 
Pelkey struck again for the Catamounts at the 9:19 mark of the third period. Bridget Baker hit her with a pass coming out of the Vermont zone and Pelkey deked past a Rensselaer defender and roofed a backhander for her second goal of the game.
 
Litchfield made 31 saves for the Catamounts to earn her second win of the season.
 
"It was great to get off to a good start today," said head coach Jim Plumer. "We really had our skating legs in the first period. It was a complete effort by the team and I continue to like the way our freshmen are developing. It was also good to see our power play get on track. All around it was a good step forward for us."
 
Vermont and RPI will face off again tomorrow afternoon at Gutterson Fieldhouse. Following the game, which starts at 2 p.m., players will sign autographs as a part of "Team Poster Day" presented by the UPS Store Downtown.
 
As a part of homecoming weekend on Sunday women's hockey alumnae are invited to visit the Coaches' Circle hospitality in the Bostwick Room starting at 1 p.m. through the beginning of the third period.  Please contact Victory.Club@uvm.edu or 802-656-0956 to RSVP, for tickets to the game or with any questions.
 
NOTES: Dayna Colang and Amanda Pelkey had three points on the afternoon … Colang also led all skaters with 12 faceoff wins … Pelkey led all skaters with eight shots … Vermont's power play was two-for-three, while the Catamounts killed off four RPI power plays.