ROCHESTER, NY – Wearing special puzzle piece jerseys to support AutismUp, the RIT women's hockey team (12-12-2, 7-4-1 CHA) celebrated "Skate for the Cure" day, by defeating visiting Lindenwood (2-20-2, 2-9-1 CHA) at Ritter Arena on Saturday afternoon.

RIT goaltender #Ali Binnington (Oakville, Ontario/Mississauga Chiefs)# returned from injury to record her fourth shutout of the season and 12th of her career, tied for third best at the university. Binnington stopped all 23 shots, as the RIT defense did a great job of keeping Lindenwood to the outside. Binnington's best save of the game came late in the second period, sliding across to rob Lindenwood's Alyssa West on a stuff-in attempt on a 2-on-1.

#Marissa Maugeri (Ajax, Ontario/Durham West Lightning) and Kourtney Kunichika (Fullerton, CA/LA Selects)# scored second period goals to provide the offense for RIT. Maugeri scored hers 17 seconds into the frame and Kunichika tallied a power-play goal with 24 seconds left in the period.

RIT out-shot Lindenwood, 38-23. RIT was 1-for-4 with the man-advantage, while Lindenwood was 0-for-4.

Lindenwood goaltender Nicole Hensley was strong in net, stopping 36-of-38 shots.

"We will take the four-point weekend," said RIT head coach #Scott McDonald#. "I thought we controlled play throughout, and buried a couple good chances. Our defense played extremely well and having Ali (Binnington) back in net was a big help for us."

Neither team scored in a quickly played first period. RIT came out slow, but turned up the intensity late in the period, generating a handful of good chances, but Hensley was there to keep the puck out.

Maugeri opened the scoring 17 seconds into the second period, getting to the net and slamming home a perfect feed from #Kolbee McCrea (Wawa, Ontario/Burlington Barracudas) in close past Hensley for her eighth goal of the season. (Brantford, Ontario/Assumption Collegiate)Erin Zach (Elmira, Ontario/Cambridge Fury)# started the play along the wall and fed McCrea behind the net. McCrea was able to spot Maugeri crashing the net.

Maugeri also scored 24 seconds into the second period in last night's win over the Lady Lions. She has seven points over the last three games and nine points (4-5-9) over a five-game point-scoring streak.

RIT ran into penalty problems later in the period, but Binnington and the penalty-killing unit did a great job keeping Lindenwood at bay.

Kunichika scored her seventh goal of the season in the final minute of the frame, on the power-play, completing a great passing play for the insurance goal. #Morgan Scoyne (Drumbo, Ontario/Stoney Creek Sabres) fed Lindsay Grigg (Oakville, Ontario/Oakville Hornets)# with a pass at the right point. Grigg fired a cross-ice diagonal pass down low to the left side, where Kuncihka fired a shot through the legs of Hensley.

RIT dominated play in the third and threatened to extend the lead, out-shooting Lindenwood, 16-5, but Hensley did a great job keeping it a two-goal game.

RIT's special game worn jerseys will be auctioned off online in February, with all proceeds going to AutismUp through the RIT United Way campaign. For more information, visit autismup.org. Last year, the Tigers raised $5,939.86 for CURE Childhood Cancer Association in its Skate for the Cure game.

RIT is now 4-1-3 all-time against the Lady Lions and finished the regular season series 2-0-1. Last night, the line of McCrea, Maugeri, and Zach combined for eight points in RIT's 4-3 win. Earlier in the year, RIT defeated Lindenwood 3-0 and skated to a 1-1 draw on the road.

AutismUp is the leading autism organization in Rochester and the surrounding areas. Founded in 2004, by a small group of parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), their mission is to support individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and their families, by expanding and enhancing opportunities to improve quality of life.

"We couldn't be happier to support a great organization and a great cause," said McDonald.

RIT is back in action next weekend with a weekend series at CHA rival Penn State University. Friday's game from brand new Pegula Ice Arena begins at 7 p.m., while Saturday's contest starts at 2 p.m.