Box Score
Box Score

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Sophomore Afton Marshall (Windham, NH/Salem) tallied the game-winning goal with 3:58 remaining and the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) women's lacrosse team held on for a dramatic 14-13 victory over Ithaca College in non-conference action on Tuesday. The win marks RPI's first over Ithaca since 1997 and brings the Red Hawks record to 2-0. The Bombers drop to 1-1.

Tied 13-13 with under four minutes remaining, sophomore midfielder Stephanie Caouette (Wynantskill, NY/Columbia) found Marshall, who buried a shot past Ithaca goalie Courtney Dowell (Massapequa, NY/Massapequa) for the eventual game-winner.

The Bombers jumped out to a quick lead in the first half, scoring three goals through the first 17 minutes of the contest. Rensselaer's Kathy Rogers (Grand Island, NY/Grand Island) answered minutes later, but the Red Hawks found themselves with a 6-3 deficit at the end of the first half.

Ithaca continued to press at the start of the second stanza, scoring just 29 seconds in for a 7-3 advantage, but RPI battled back, scoring 30 seconds later. With 22:44 remaining in the contest, Ithaca held a 12-5 lead, but Rensselaer took control with five straight goals to pull within two (12-10).

Senior midfielder Emily Donowick (West Seneca, NY/Nichols School) scored three tallies in that span, but Ithaca fought its way back to the net, scoring at 12:24 to make it 13-10. Caouette then tallied on a free position shot and Marshall pushed the Red Hawks ahead with the game-tying goal at 10:26.

Less than two minutes later, Marshall pushed RPI into the lead, but Ithaca responded with 7:51 left to tie the game. 

In addition to Marshall, who had three goals and an assist, Donowick added a team-high five tallies. Caouette posted two goals and an assist while junior midfielder Sam Fennessey (Gansevoort, NY/Saratoga Springs) had a goal and two assists. Rogers, freshman Emma Albert (Baldwinsville, NY/CW Baker) and senior Carly Mahony (Topsville, MA/Masconomet Regional) each scored a goal.

Junior netminder Ariana Hood (Severn, MD/Old Mill) had a fantastic outing, improving to 2-0 overall with 10 saves.

For Ithaca, sophomore midfielder Katie Hurley (Honeoye Falls, NY/Honeoye Falls-Lima) led the Bombers with four goals while senior attack Becky Bedard (East Longmeadow, MA/East Longmeadow) had three goals and three assists. Dowell took the loss with 10 saves.

Rensselaer won the battle in shots, holding a 32-28 shot advantage over the Bombers. The Red Hawks also held an 18-13 margin in ground balls, but found themselves on the losing end of draw controls in the game as Ithaca held a 22-7 edge.

The Red Hawks return to action on Friday as they close out their Florida trip against Ursinus at 10am. Ithaca also wraps up its trip down south against Vassar at 12:30pm on Friday.