Box Score

TROY, N.Y. – Backed by two goals and an assist from senior Michelle Clemente (Rensselaer, NY/Columbia), the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) field hockey team defeated Oneonta State, 3-1, in non-conference action this evening. The Red Hawks improve to 3-3 with the victory while the Red Dragons fall to 2-3.

RPI jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first half on Clemente’s first tally. Setting up just to the left of the goal, Clemente caught a pass from sophomore Megan McNamara (Johnstown, NY/Johnstown) and beat Red Dragons goalie Erika Dombkowski (Carmel, NY/Carmel) at 31:21.

Rensselaer, which outshot Oneonta State, 12-2, in the opening half, gained a two-goal cushion early in the second frame off a wide-open shot from freshman Elsie Russell (Fryeburg, ME/Fryeburg) at 40:07. Bringing the ball into the arc, Clemente attempted to shoot around the goalie, but the ball came loose to Russell, who buried it into the box for the goal.

Oneonta State narrowed the Rensselaer lead at 59:58, when junior forward Somer Shuffield (East Rochester, NY/East Rochester) carried the ball in from the far side of the arc and ducked around a Red Hawks defender for the goal.

Clemente’s second goal at the 68:44 mark off a re-direct from senior Michelle Roy (Rensselaer, NY/Columbia) sealed the victory for RPI. Sophomore goaltender Kate Williams (Rome, NY/Holland Patent) posted two saves in the win while Dombkowski made eight stops for the Red Dragons.

Rensselaer is back in action on September 21st when it opens its Liberty League schedule on the road at nationally-ranked Skidmore (4pm). Oneonta State opens its SUNYAC schedule on Saturday at Geneseo (1pm).