Box Score
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TROY, N.Y. – Junior midfielder Megan McNamara (Johnstown, NY/Johnstown) scored the go-ahead goal at 50:26 to give Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) a 2-1 lead, and it held on for the victory over eighth-ranked SUNY-Cortland. With the win the Red Hawks improve to 3-2 on the season, while the Red Dragons fall to 2-1.

With game tied at 1-1 midway through the second half, freshman Morgan Danner (McLean, VA/Langley) took a shot that hit a defender and fell at the feet of McNamara, who spun and whipped a shot of her own past Cortland goalkeeper Stacy Billings (Marathon, NY/Marathon), putting the Red Hawks up, 2-1.

The Red Dragons, who had much of the offensive pressure throughout the game, compiled a 22-7 edge in overall shots, but only a 7-5 edge in those that reached their target. Cortland also held an edge in penalty corners earning ten to the Red Hawks two.

RPI junior Kristiina Baker (Bolton, MA/Nashoba Regional) gave the hosts a 1-0 lead ten minutes in the game. After a scramble in front of the Cortland net, Baker picked up a loose ball and buried it past Billings for her second marker of the season.

The Red Dragons answered nine minutes later as sophomore forward Brenda Semit (Holland Patent, NY/Holland Patent) finished off of a penalty corner play. On the play, junior defender Kylie Burghardt (Lisle, NY/Whitney Point) deflected a pass from the top of the scoring arc towards Semit who was waiting at the back post and fired the ball into an empty net, evening the game at one.

Semit finished the game with a game-high seven shots including two on goal. Rensselaer freshman netminder Briana Earle (Baldwinsville, NY/C.W. Baker) made four saves to improve to 2-2 on the year. Billings, who made three stops for the visiting Red Dragons, falls to 2-1.

The Red Hawks return to action on Wednesday, when they will travel to Oneonta St (6pm). Cortland also plays Wednesday, as they will host Hartwick (4pm).