Women's Hockey | 7/10/2015 8:10:00 AM

ROCHESTER, NY - Former RIT women's hockey standout Erin Zach, a 2014 graduate, became the second Tiger to sign a professional contract with the National Women's Hockey League (NWHL), inking a deal with the Buffalo Beauts on Thursday, July 9.

Zach enjoyed an excellent four-year career with the Tigers, recording 74 points on 30 goals and 44 assists in 121 contests. As a freshman in 2010-11, Zach scored a career-high 12 goals, helping lead the Tigers to a national runner-up finish in the NCAA Division III Tournament. The next season, Zach was a key member of the squad that won the Division III Championship. She helped RIT make a seamless transition to Division I in 2012-13, recording 17 points on four goals and 13 assists.

Zach enjoyed a senior year to remember in 2013-14, tallying a career-best 25 points on eight goals and 17 assists in 26 contests. Her 25 points were second best on the squad. Zach scored RIT's first goal in its eventual 2-1 double overtime win over top-seeded Mercyhurst in the College Hockey America Championship game. Zach recorded 12 career power-play tallies, five shorthanded goals, and eight game-winners, including four during the 2010-11 season.

On June 26, Zach's former teammate Celeste Brown (Great Falls, MT/National Sports Academy) signed with the New York Riveters.

I want to congratulate Erin Zach on signing her professional hockey contract with NWHL's Buffalo Beauts," said Scott McDonald, Bruce B. Bates Women's Hockey Coach at RIT. "It's an amazing opportunity for Erin and I couldn't be more excited for her. She was a dynamic player for us during her time at RIT, and there's no doubt she'll be a fan favorite the minute she steps on the ice in Buffalo. Everyone here at RIT wishes her well during her next phase in her hockey career."

"I would also like to thank the NWHL commissioner, Dani Rylan and the entire staff in Buffalo for this incredible opportunity they are providing young female hockey players to further their playing careers, and helping grow women's hockey."

The NWHL launched in April 2015, with its inaugural season to debut on October 17. It is the first paid professional women's hockey league in North America. The NWHL will start with four teams and plans to expand the league with additional teams and locations across North America. The founding four teams are the Boston Pride, Buffalo Beauts, Connecticut Whale and New York Riveters.