Box Score Box Score

TROY, N.Y. – Junior Carlie Newcomb scored the game's first goal and added an insurance tally in the second half to lead the Rensselaer field hockey team to a, 3-1, victory over New England College, in non-league action, at Harkness Field. With the win the Engineers improve to 8-4 overall, while the Pilgrims drop to 7-8.

The visitors were the first to crack the scoreboard, doing so at 11:52 of the first half. Graduate student Emily Kuchta (Norwalk, CT/Brien McMahon) carried the ball in from the midfield line and beat RPI senior goaltender Briana Earle (Baldwinsville, NY/C.W. Baker), into the low left corner of the net.

Rensselaer answered less than four minutes later (16:13) off of a penalty corner. Junior Alissa Peterson (Gaithersburg, MD/Quince Orchard) found Newcomb (Southwick, MA/Southwick Tolland Regional) all alone at the right side of the cage. She then buried her second goal of the season, tying the game at 1-1.

With just 15 seconds left in the first half, RPI sophomore Kierstan Ryan (Levittown, PA/Harry S. Truman) re-directed a shot from the top of the scoring arc by senior Erika Hawksley (Windsor, ME/Erskine Academy) past Pilgrims' netminder Mary Roux (Hillsborough, NH/Auburn) to give the hosts a 2-1 lead.

New England College had a number of chances to pull even in the second stanza, including a pair of opportunities off of penalty corners.

In the first minute of the half, Kuchta had a shot off of a penalty corner that Engineers' sophomore Sarah Krolus (Westminster, MD/Garrison Forest School) kept out with a defensive save. The ball popped right back to Kuchta, who second try was stopped by Earle.

Pilgrims' junior Jennifer Adams (Brimfield, MA/Tantasqua) then tipped a point-blank effort on goal at the 60:28 mark, but Earle was equal to the task, turning the shot away.

Newcomb put Rensselaer up 3-1 at 61:31 after she picked up her own rebound and stuffed in her second goal of the game.

Earle (8-4) made seven saves – all in the second half – while Roux finished with seven stops at the other end of the field.

The Engineers return to action on Wednesday, when they host Utica on at Harkness Field (7pm).

For news and updates regarding RPI field hockey, fans can follow Engineers Athletics on Facebook (RPI Athletics) and via Twitter (@rpiathletics).  Photos of Rensselaer student-athletes can be purchased at http://www.rpiathletics.com/photos.