The Lindenwood Women's Hockey team (6-11-0, 3-8-0 AHA) dropped the series opener at RIT (4-11-0, 4-3-0 AHA) on Friday afternoon by a final score of 4-0.
The Tigers opened the scoring 3:23 into the first period after a Lindenwood turnover in the defensive zone led to an odd-man rush. MacKenzie Clarke collected the puck and found Emma Pickering in the middle of the ice, who sent a one-timer past Ebba Ridderstolpe to give RIT a 1-0 lead. Following the goal, the Lions had two power-play opportunities but were unable to find the equalizer. Lindenwood generated some momentum on their second power play of the period, recording three shots on goal coming from Michaela Paulinyova, Krisztina Weiler, and Tiril Arntzen. Ridderstolpe finished the opening period with 11 saves, while the Lions recorded five shots on goal.
Six minutes into the second period, Lindenwood earned their third power-play opportunity of the game but again could not find the equalizer. Shortly after the power play expired, the Tigers turned the puck over, creating a scoring opportunity for the Lions. Tilde Simensen collected the puck near the blue line and fired a shot on goal, creating a rebound opportunity for Paige Cline. Cline recorded a shot off the rebound, but the RIT goaltender made the save, allowing Simensen to collect a second rebound that was created and found the back of the net. However, after a review for offsides, the goal was overturned and kept RIT in front 1-0.
Later in the period, RIT converted on their first power-play opportunity of the game to extend the lead to 2-0 heading into the second intermission. The final period of play saw the Tigers add two more goals over the final six minutes to secure the 4-0 victory in the series opener.
The Lions finished with 15 shots on goal and were led by Silje Gundersen, who had four shots on target, while Ridderstolpe made 32 saves on 36 shots faced.
Lindenwood will wrap up the series against the Tigers tomorrow afternoon at 12 PM CT.
