Box Score

TROY, N.Y. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) field hockey team scored two goals in the first half and used a solid defensive effort in the final 35 minutes to defeat Vassar College, 2-0, in Liberty League action this evening. With the victory, the Red Hawks improve to 4-5 overall and 1-2 in the league while the Brewers fall to 2-6 and 0-3 in the Liberty League.

The Red Hawks opened the scoring in the first half, taking a 2-0 lead behind goals from juniors Stephanie Petta (Hopewell Junction, NY/John Jay) and Sara Stylinski (Southington, CT/Southington).

Normally a defender, Petta made a smooth transition to the midfield position with her first career goal at the 13:49 mark. Taking a shot from the right side, her shot went off Brewers goalie Taylor Herman (Flemington, NJ/Hunterdon Central) for the 1-0 lead.

Stylinski made it a two-goal cushion for Rensselaer near the end of the half when she corralled her own rebound and chipped it in over the goalie at 31:02. Sending a shot at the box, Herman made the initial save, but the ball came loose to Stylinski, who quickly found it for the goal.

The visiting Brewers made a charge in the second half, putting up seven shots, but the RPI defense held strong, blocking multiple attempts to preserve its two-goal lead. Late in the game, Red Hawks freshman Sandy Turnbull (Upperville, VA/Chatham Hall) had a chance to give Rensselaer a 3-0 lead, but her shot ricocheted off the post and back out into play.

Sophomore Kate Williams (Rome, NY/Holland Patent) made one stop in the win for RPI to improve to 3-4 overall. In the Vassar goal, Herman, the starter, suffered the loss, stopping one shot. Senior Ellie Pomerantz (Hartsdale, NY/The Hackley School) played the final 35 minutes, recording one save. Both teams each had a defensive save in the contest.

Rensselaer returns to action on October 5 and 6 when it welcomes Liberty League rivals Hamilton (6pm) and St. Lawrence (4pm), respectively to Harkness Field. The Brewers play Elizabethtown College on Saturday (2pm).