Box Score
TROY, N.Y. – Senior Sabrina Alimi (Dewitt, NY/Jamesville-Dewitt) tallied the game-winning goal with four seconds left in regulation to propel Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) past Western New England College, 11-10, in non-conference women’s lacrosse action at Harkness Field. With the victory, the Red Hawks improve to 2-2, while the Golden Bears are now 0-2.
Rensselaer erased a one-goal deficit (5-4) quickly in the second half with Alimi netting the first of her two goals in the contest at 27:46 to tie things up (5-5). Sophomore Kerri Clark (Saratoga Springs, NY/Saratoga Springs) gave the home team a two-goal cushion (7-5) less than a minutes later, scoring back-to-back goals both assisted by classmate Carly Strife (Saratoga Springs, NY/Saratoga Springs).
The Red Hawks added two more goals for a 9-5 lead at 15:34 before the visiting Golden Bears took control of the game, scoring five of the next seven goals in the contest. Sophomore Lindsay Fenton (Amherst, MA/Amherst Regional) led the charge, tallying three of her game-high five goals, including the game-tying marker at the 1:48 mark.
Off the draw control, which was won by WNEC’s Fenton, RPI capitalized on a turnover and brought the ball down into the Bears’ zone. Freshman Sam Fennessey (Gansevoort, NY/Saratoga Springs) controlled the ball behind the net and sent a quick pass to Alimi in front for the goal past WNEC goalie Brie Sylvia (West Tisbury, MA/Martha’s Vineyard Regional)
In addition to Clark, who tallied a team-high three goals, Rensselaer saw Strife add two goals and three assists. Junior Natalie White (Guilford, CT/Guilford) and Fennessey each chipped in two goals and an assist for the Red Hawks, which saw freshmen Arianna Hood (Severn, MD/Old Mill) and Emily Perkins (Bow, NH/Bow) post five and three saves, respectively.
For Western New England, freshman Rosalie Rodriguez (Norwalk, CT/Brien McMahon) had two goals and an assist. Senior Audrey Kelton (Wilder, VT/Hartford) added two goals, while junior Kayte Devine (New Fairfield, CT/New Fairfield) chipped in with a goal. Sylvia made ten saves in the loss for the Golden Bears
Rensselaer returns to the field on March 23 at nationally-ranked and league-rival William Smith (4pm). The Golden Bears are back in action on Sunday when they host Roger Williams (1pm).
