Box Score

TROY, N.Y. – Sophomore Sarah Hinz (Swanzey, NH/Monadnock) scored the game-winning goal mid-way through the second half and the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) women’s soccer team held on for a 2-1 victory over city-rival Russell Sage. With the victory the Red Hawks improve to 1-1-1. The Gators drop to 1-1.

RPI jumped out to an early 1-0 lead when sophomore Kerry Reilly (Ballston Spa, NY/Ballston Spa) dribbled around Russell Sage goaltender Schuyler Kokernak (Watervliet, NY) for a wide open shot at 11:18. The Gators evened the score at 34:14 on a goal by junior Amy Azzaro (Schenectady, NY), who broke through the Red Hawks’ defense, sliding a shot into the left corner of the net past a diving Tara Marandino (Massapequa, NY/Massapequa). Senior Katie Peletz (Bloomville, NY) earned the assist on the goal.

RPI had a chance to gain the lead late in the half on a bullet shot by freshman Briana Bet (Whitehall, PA/Allentown Central Catholic), but Kokernack made a great save to keep the game notted at 1-1 heading into the intermission.

The score remained the same until the 68:24 mark when Hinz dodged around the Gators goaltender and sent a high shot under the right side of the crossbar for the 2-1 lead. Hinz nearly put Rensselaer up by a two-goal margin with less than ten seconds remaining on a breakaway opportunity, but Kokernak came up with the save.

Marandino made four stops for the Red Hawks while Kokernak registered five saves in defeat.

Rensselaer is back in action on Saturday for a non-conference match against Alfred at Harkness Field (12pm). Russell Sage plays again on Saturday at home against Potsdam (2pm).