Box Score

TROY, N.Y. – Rochester notched two first half goals and the Yellowjackets held Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) off the scoreboard until midway through the second half in a 2-1 Liberty League field hockey game at Harkness Field. With the win, the Yellowjackets improve to 7-4 overall and 3-2 in league play. The Red Hawks fall to 6-6 and 3-2.

Junior Kari Plewniak (Tonawanda, NY/Sweet Home) opened the scoring at the 7:41 mark to put Rochester up, 1-0.  Plewniak picked up a rebound of a Mary DiMatteo (Belmont, MA/Belmont) and scored past Rensselaer goalie Liz Szewczak (Enfield, CT/Enrico Fermi).

The Yellowjackets gained a two-goal advantage less than five minutes later on a goal by senior Kristy Johnson (Sylvan Beach, NY/Camden). Johnson picked up the ball off a deflection in front of the net and scored to the left side from the slot.

Rensselaer battled back in the second half when freshman Megan McNamara (Johnstown, NY/Johnstown) scored off a rebound. Sophomore Sara Stylinski (Southington, CT/Southington) took a shot from just inside the circle, the ball hit a Rochester defender and bounced to the stick of McNamara, who put it past Yellowjackets goalie Rachel Cahan (Evanston, IL/North Shore Country Day) at 50:54.

Despite numerous opportunities for Rensselaer late in the game, including a shot by sophomore Kristiina Baker (Bolton, MA/Nashoba Regional) that was saved by Cahan, the Red Hawks were unable to tie the score.

Cahan posted five saves in the win for the Yellowjackets. Szewczak made three saves in the first half before senior Jen O’Neil (Derry, NH/Pinkerton Academy) took over in the second frame. She had three saves.

The Red Hawks return to action on Wednesday for a non-conference game at Utica (4pm). Rochester travels to Geneseo for a match on Tuesday (4pm).