SCHENECTADY, N.Y. — Coming off a Frozen Four appearance, No. 5 Northeastern entered the 2026-27 season with high expectations. Instead, RPI freshman goaltender Sadie Bellisimo made 41 saves in her collegiate debut to lead the Engineers to a 2-1 overtime upset of the Huskies.
“I’d be more concerned if we weren’t generating chances,” said Northeastern head coach Dave Flint. “We didn’t take advantage of our opportunities. They did, and that’s what happens.”
The Engineers entered the contest 0-4, having struggled to score and keep opponents off the board. RPI head coach Bryan Vines turned to Bellisimo, who frustrated Northeastern throughout the afternoon, beginning with a perfect opening period.
The Huskies tested the freshman early, but Bellisimo stopped all 16 shots on goal in the opening period, including those during a two-minute Northeastern power play. Entering the contest, RPI had allowed opponents to convert on three of 10 power-play opportunities.
Northeastern won 10 of 16 faceoffs in the first frame, helping the Huskies establish possession. That pressure continued in the second, as Northeastern outshot RPI 11-5 on goal and held a 21-5 advantage in total attempts, but still could not break through.
“I thought the forecheck was really good,” Flint said. “Lines are still trying to figure out some chemistry, right? There’s a lot of new lines and new players.”
With RPI playing its fifth game and Northeastern its first, Flint emphasized that the Huskies have time to find that chemistry.
“It matters how we’re playing in February and March, not how we’re playing in October,” he said.
Northeastern finally broke through in the third period when Minnesota Duluth graduate transfer Grace Sadura scored her first goal in a Huskies uniform.
“She just works so hard, 200 feet,” Flint said. “She’s actually a great addition for us.”
The lead was short-lived. Minutes later, junior Éloïse Caron was sent to the penalty box for tripping, and RPI freshman defender Kaylynn Fisher capitalized within seconds, scoring her first career goal to tie the game.
In overtime, freshman forward Barbora Cerna-Proskova beat Northeastern sophomore goaltender Renna Trembecky blocker-side to complete the upset.
Despite the result, Flint saw positives in Northeastern’s opener.
“I just told the team, I’d be upset if we didn’t play well, but we did a lot of really good things,” he said. “First game of the year, I’m not worried about it.”
Northeastern returns to action Friday afternoon with a 2pm matchup against Providence. Mike Kaminsky will have the call on WRBB Sports+.
Max Schwartzberg is a senior at Northeastern and covers hockey, basketball, and baseball in print and on air. He is also a Cape Cod Baseball League announcer for the Hyannis Harbor Hawks. You can read his articles here and follow his Instagram here.