RPI Engineers women's ice hockey
Encyclopedia
The RPI Engineers men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA) Division I women's college ice hockey
program that represents Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
. The Engineers are a member of ECAC Hockey (ECACHL). They play at the Houston Field House
in Troy, New York
.
. In their final season in Division III, the 2004-05 season, the Engineers qualified to the championship game of the ECAC East Tournament. It was their second consecutive season in the championship. That season, RPI had 21 wins, comparted to only 6 losses and a league record of 17-2-0. In addition, the Engineers were ranked second in the nation in scoring defense (allowing only 1.22 goals per game). Nationally, the Engineers were fourth in power play percentage and eighth in scoring offense. The star of the team was sophomore Julie Aho. She was selected as an AHCA National All-America, and led the team in scoring in each of her first two seasons.
In 2005-06, RPI was a Division I independent
. The club won 18 games, lost 6 and tied 2. During that season, the team notched wins over Colgate
, Northeastern
, Connecticut
and Boston University. Despite being an independent, the Engineers were ranked fourth in the NCAA in winning percentage (.731) and seventh in scoring offense (3.23 goals per game average). Senior goaltender Rosina Schiff would become the program’s all-time leader in wins with 40 (since broken) and games played with 65 (since broken).
Rensselaer joined the ECAC
for the 2006-07 season. In its second season in the ECAC (2007–08), Rensselaer won 13 games, compared to 15 losses and 5 ties and a conference record of 6-12-4. The Engineers matched the single season record for ties, including its first-ever point over then nationally-ranked Dartmouth in a 1-1 draw in Hanover.
The record for most wins at the NCAA Division I level in one season is 19, which was set in 2008-09 (19-14-4). The overall program record is 21, set in 2004-05, the team's last year at the Division III level. The Engineers made NCAA history on February 28, 2010 beating Quinnipiac
2-1 in five overtime periods. Senior defenseman Laura Gersten had the game winning goal. She registered it at 4:32 of the fifth overtime session to not only clinch the win, but the series victory. It is now the second longest college hockey game in NCAA history, surpassed a few weeks later on March 12, 2010 in a men's hockey contest between Quinnipiac
beat Union
.
During the 2010-11 season, the Engineers boasted one statistic that no other Division I team in the country could: three Alaskan players on its current roster. Amanda Castignetti is from Anchorage (and attended Shattuck St-Mary's in Minnesota), Jordan Smelker, a freshman from Anchorage, and Nona Letuligasenoa (attended the North American Hockey Academy in Stowe, Vermont) were the three players in question.
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
(NCAA) Division I women's college ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
program that represents Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Stephen Van Rensselaer established the Rensselaer School on November 5, 1824 with a letter to the Rev. Dr. Samuel Blatchford, in which van Rensselaer asked Blatchford to serve as the first president. Within the letter he set down several orders of business. He appointed Amos Eaton as the school's...
. The Engineers are a member of ECAC Hockey (ECACHL). They play at the Houston Field House
Houston Field House
Houston Field House is a multi-purpose arena on the campus of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. It is the second oldest arena in the ECAC Hockey League behind Princeton University's Hobey Baker Memorial Rink.It is also the nations third oldest hockey rink behind Northeasterns...
in Troy, New York
Troy, New York
Troy is a city in the US State of New York and the seat of Rensselaer County. Troy is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Troy has close ties to the nearby cities of Albany and Schenectady, forming a region popularly called the Capital...
.
History
The Engineers women's hockey program began for the 1995-96 season, playing at the NCAA Division III level in ECAC EastECAC East
ECAC East is a college athletic conference which operates in the northeastern United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division III as a hockey-only conference.-Members:...
. In their final season in Division III, the 2004-05 season, the Engineers qualified to the championship game of the ECAC East Tournament. It was their second consecutive season in the championship. That season, RPI had 21 wins, comparted to only 6 losses and a league record of 17-2-0. In addition, the Engineers were ranked second in the nation in scoring defense (allowing only 1.22 goals per game). Nationally, the Engineers were fourth in power play percentage and eighth in scoring offense. The star of the team was sophomore Julie Aho. She was selected as an AHCA National All-America, and led the team in scoring in each of her first two seasons.
In 2005-06, RPI was a Division I independent
NCAA Division I independent schools (ice hockey)
NCAA Division I independent schools are teams that compete in NCAA college ice hockey but are not members of a conference. There are several current schools who, at one time or another, competed as Division I independents.-Men:-Women:-Men:-Women:...
. The club won 18 games, lost 6 and tied 2. During that season, the team notched wins over Colgate
Colgate Raiders women's ice hockey
The Colgate Raiders women's ice hockey team is an NCAA Division I ice hockey team that represents Colgate University and play in ECAC Hockey. The Raiders play their home games at Starr Arena...
, Northeastern
Northeastern Huskies women's ice hockey
The women's varsity hockey program started in 1980, and under former World Hockey Association all-star goaltender Don McLeod, who was named the coach the following season and led the program for ten seasons, became the first national power in collegiate women's hockey...
, Connecticut
Connecticut Huskies women's ice hockey
The Connecticut Huskies women's ice hockey program represents the University of Connecticut. The Huskies compete in Hockey East.-History:The 1-0 shutout by Connecticut on November 13, 2010 ended New Hampshire’s 17-game unbeaten streak against the Huskies. The Huskies penalty kill was a perfect...
and Boston University. Despite being an independent, the Engineers were ranked fourth in the NCAA in winning percentage (.731) and seventh in scoring offense (3.23 goals per game average). Senior goaltender Rosina Schiff would become the program’s all-time leader in wins with 40 (since broken) and games played with 65 (since broken).
Rensselaer joined the ECAC
ECAC
ECAC can refer to:* ECAC Hockey* Eastern College Athletic Conference* European Civil Aviation Conference...
for the 2006-07 season. In its second season in the ECAC (2007–08), Rensselaer won 13 games, compared to 15 losses and 5 ties and a conference record of 6-12-4. The Engineers matched the single season record for ties, including its first-ever point over then nationally-ranked Dartmouth in a 1-1 draw in Hanover.
The record for most wins at the NCAA Division I level in one season is 19, which was set in 2008-09 (19-14-4). The overall program record is 21, set in 2004-05, the team's last year at the Division III level. The Engineers made NCAA history on February 28, 2010 beating Quinnipiac
Quinnipiac Bobcats women's ice hockey
The Quinnipiac Bobcats women's ice hockey program represents Quinnipiac University. The Bobcats compete in ECAC Hockey.-Year by year:In their inaugural season, the Quinnipiac Braves were in the ECAC Eastern Conference. After their inaugural season, the team changed its name to Bobcats. From 2002 to...
2-1 in five overtime periods. Senior defenseman Laura Gersten had the game winning goal. She registered it at 4:32 of the fifth overtime session to not only clinch the win, but the series victory. It is now the second longest college hockey game in NCAA history, surpassed a few weeks later on March 12, 2010 in a men's hockey contest between Quinnipiac
Quinnipiac Bobcats men's ice hockey
The Quinnipiac Bobcats men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college ice hockey program that represents Quinnipiac University. The Bobcats are a member of ECAC Hockey. They play at the TD Bank Sports Center in Hamden, Connecticut.-History:Quinnipiac...
beat Union
Union Dutchmen ice hockey
The Union Dutchmen ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I College ice hockey program that represents Union College. The Dutchmen are a member of ECAC Hockey. They play at the Achilles Rink in Schenectady, New York....
.
During the 2010-11 season, the Engineers boasted one statistic that no other Division I team in the country could: three Alaskan players on its current roster. Amanda Castignetti is from Anchorage (and attended Shattuck St-Mary's in Minnesota), Jordan Smelker, a freshman from Anchorage, and Nona Letuligasenoa (attended the North American Hockey Academy in Stowe, Vermont) were the three players in question.
Year by year
- Prior to the 2005-06 season, the Engineers were in NCAA Division III.
Year Wins Losses Ties Coach Postseason 2010-11 TBD TBD TBD John Burke 2009-10 16 15 6 John Burke 2008-09 19 14 4 John Burke 2007-08 13 15 5 John Burke 2006-07 12 22 1 John Burke 2005-06 18 6 2 John Burke
Current roster
| Number | Name | Position | Height | Shoots | Class |
| 1 | Shannon Ramelot | G | 5-11 | Fr. | |
| 2 | Audrey Stapleton | F | 5-6 | Fr. | |
| 5 | Katie Daniels | D | 5-3 | R | So. |
| 6 | Laura Gersten | D | 5-4 | R | Sr. |
| 7 | Amanda Castignetti | D | 5-4 | L | So. |
| 8 | Allysen Weidner | F | 5-7 | R | Sr. |
| 10 | Whitney Naslund | F | 5-5 | R | Sr. |
| 12 | Laura Guillemette | F | 5-3 | L | So. |
| 13 | Janessa Haller | D | 5-4 | Fr. | |
| 15 | Taylor Horton | F | 5-9 | Fr. | |
| 16 | Sierra Vadner | D | 5-6 | R | So. |
| 17 | Clare Padmore | F | 5-8 | Fr. | |
| 18 | Jill Vandegrift | F | 5-5 | R | So. |
| 19 | Rossli Chace | F | 5-7 | L | Sr. |
| 20 | Alisa Harrison | F | 5-5 | R | So. |
| 21 | Andie Le Donne | D | 5-11 | Fr. | |
| 23 | Ashley Gaylord | F | 5-7 | R | Jr. |
| 24 | Sydney O'Keefe | F | 5-8 | R | Jr. |
| 26 | Kristen Jakubowski | F/D | 5-11 | R | So. |
| 27 | Kendra Dunlop | F | 5-4 | L | Jr. |
| 29 | Kristen Burney | G | 5-10 | Fr. | |
| 33 | Sonja van der Bliek | G | 5-8 | L | Jr. |
| 86 | Allison Wright | F | 5-6 | L | Sr. |
Notable players
- Julie Aho
- Alisa Harrison
- Rosina Schiff
- Sonja van der Bliek
- Alison Wright
- As of the end of the 2009-10 season, Sonja van der Bliek was RPI’s single season record holder in numerous categories: most games played (84), most games started (83), most wins (42-31-11), most minutes played (5161:36), most saves (1922) and most shutouts (16).
Awards and honors
- Julie Aho, AHCA National All-America (2005)
- Laura Gersten, Sarah Devens AwardSarah Devens AwardThe Sarah Devens Award is given as a joint award between the ECAC Hockey and Hockey East conferences to a women’s ice hockey player. The criteria for the Devens Award is for a player who demonstrates leadership and commitment both on and off the ice. Both conferences submitted a league nominee for...
- Alisa Harrison, ECAC Hockey All-Rookie Team (2009)
- Whitney Naslund, ECAC Hockey Championship All-Tournament Team (2009)
- Sierra Vadner, Defense, 2009 ECAC All-Rookie Team
- Sonja van der Bliek was named the ECAC Goaltender of the Week (for the week of March 1, 2010)