Box Score

TROY, N.Y. – Sophomore Kristiina Baker (Bolton, MA/Nashoba Regional) posted two goals and added an assist in leading Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) to a 4-3 victory over nationally-ranked Middlebury in non-conference field hockey action. With the victory, the Red Hawks improve to 9-8 overall. The Panthers are now 11-2 on the season.

Rensselaer jumped out to a 2-0 advantage in the first half on tallies by junior Michelle Clemente (Rensselaer, NY/Columbia) and Baker. Clemente scored the unassisted goal after weaving in through traffic taking a shot that sailed past the right side of Panthers goalie Megan McGillen (E. Harwich, MA/Harwich) at 3:57.

Baker tallied at the 28:01 mark and gave the Red Hawks at 3-0 advantage early in the second half after battling around a Panthers defenseman for the goal at 43:37. Sophomore Kerri Clark (Saratoga Springs, NY/Saratoga Springs) assisted on both goals, with an additional helper awarded to classmate Sara Stylinski (Southington, CT/Southington) on Baker’s first tally.

Middlebury rallied back minutes after the Red Hawks third goal as the team’s leading scorers Dana Rye (Virginia Beach, VA/Ocean Lakes) and Reid Berrien (Westport, CT/Green Farms Academy) both tallied to pull the visitors to within a goal.

Berrien, who finished with 10 shots on goal in the game, sent a bullet shot at the net off a corner shot from freshman Madeleine Macmillan (Milton, MA/Milton Academy), who was credited with the lone assist.

Freshman Jane Mullery Doar (Winnetka, IL/North Shore CDS) closed the gap for the Panthers at the 62:35 mark, pushing through the RPI defense to send a shot just past the reach of senior Red Hawks’ keeper Jen O’Neil (Derry, NH/Pinkerton Academy).

Just over a minute later, Clemente would seal the victory for Rensselaer after tallying her second goal of the game at 63:45. On a scramble in front of the Panther net, Baker’s stick found the ball and moved it up to Clemente, who shot it past McGillen for the score.

O’Neil had an outstanding night, posting 23 saves in the win for RPI. McGillen made 13 stops in the loss for Middlebury.

Rensselaer returns to action on Sunday when it hosts Nazareth in the final game of the regular season at Harkness Field (11am). The Panthers conclude their regular season schedule on Saturday at 11am when they host Trinity.