ROCHESTER, NY – The RIT women's hockey team used timely goal scoring and strong goaltending to win its 2016-17 debut, a 2-1 victory over Guelph University in an exhibition at the Gene Polisseni Center on Friday evening.

Cassie Clayton (Pickering, Ontario/PEAC School) scored a first period power-play goal and Reagan Rust (Southaven, MS/Moon Area) added a brilliant 3-on-5 shorthanded goal late in the third period for the Tigers. In net, the trio of Brooke Stoddart (Elmvale, Ontario/Elmvale), Jenna de Jonge (Abbotsford, British Columbia/George Elliot), and Terra Lanteigne (Hatchet Lake, Nova Scotia/Charles P. Allen) were brilliant, combining to stop 37-of-38 total shots.

Sydney Davison scored a power-play goal for Guelph with 17 seconds left in regulation to spoil the RIT shutout. In goal, Valerie Lamenta made 24 saves.

Special teams were the story, as each team was whistled for 11 penalties and both teams had 11 power-plays. Both teams were 1-for-11 on the power-play. The difference was Rust's shorthanded goal with 4:59 left in regulation.

"I liked our compete level and for an exhibition, I liked the mentality of our team of getting into the shooting lanes and blocking shots," said Bruce B. Bates Women's Hockey Coach Scott McDonald. "All three goalies played outstanding and made key saves in all three periods to keep the lead. Our penalty kill did an excellent job, it's not too often that you see a 5-on-3 shorthanded goal."

RIT got on the board first, 16:39 into the game, as Clayton slid a shot past Lamenta to the short side in front on a power-play. Stoddart was called upon to make some key saves late in the period to maintain the lead after one period.

Guelph had a handful of excellent chances in the second period, but de Jonge made a handful of big saves, her best two coming on one sequence early in the frame with the Gryffons on a power-play. Kelly Gibbons fired a shot from in close that de Jonge stopped, with the rebound going to Mackenzie Wong in close. Wong looked to have an open net, but de Jonge got the pad across to make a great stop and keep it a 1-0 game.

RIT ran into penalty problems in the third period, having to kill off a full two minutes of a 5-on-3 Guelph power-play. Brinna Dochniak (Marine on St. Croix, MN/Stillwater) blocked a chance by Sophie Contant with the net open after on a rebound in front.

Moments later, the puck came back to the point with a shot attempted blocked by Rust, who was able to corral the loose puck and beat the defenders down the ice. With two defenders draped on her, Rust roofed a hard shot over the glove of Lamenta for the brilliant shorthanded goal, inciting a thunderous roar from the Gene Polisseni Center faithful.

Lanteigne made a bunch of big saves as the period progressed, as Guelph fired 12 shots on six power-play attempts. Davison jammed in a loose puck with the goalie pulled in the final seconds to break up the RIT shutout.

The Tigers open the regular season next Friday, Sept. 30 and Saturday, Oct. 1, as they travel to take on Minnesota State University.