Box Score

CLINTON, N.Y. – A five-goal flurry in the final 10 minutes wasn't enough to erase an early deficit as the Rensselaer women's lacrosse was edged by Union College, 9-8, this afternoon at Steuben Field, in the semifinal round of the Liberty League Tournament. With the win, the Dutchwomen improve to 10-7 overall, while the Engineers conclude their season with a 10-5 record.

Trailing 9-3 with 9:50 to play in regulation, RPI mounted a come-back scoring the game's final five goals. Sophomore Alissa Peterson (Gaithersburg, MD/Quince Orchard) netted her second of the game and team-leading 32nd of the season to pull to within five (9-4).

Following a free-position tally by senior Whitney Kukol (Johnson City, NY/Johnson City), classmate Stephanie Caouette (Wynantskill, NY/Columbia) ran off three straight goals in a span of 1:05 to pull within, 9-8, but RPI was unable to find the equalizer.

Union Senior Melissa Hine (South Hadley, MA/South Hadley) pushed the second-seeded Dutchwomen's lead to six goals (8-2) with 17:29 to play in the second half, after ending the opening frame with back-to-back tallies.

The two teams then traded goals as Caouette scored her 27th of the year and the 111th of her career, setting a new Rensselaer school record. The midfielder is already the Engineers' career points record holder (167).

Peterson and classmate Shannon Maguire (Randolph, NJ/Randolph) scored RPI's two first half goals, but Union senior attack Kristin Joyce (Longmeadow, MA/Longmeadow) kept the Engineers at bay, notching her 54th and 55th goals of the season to give the Dutchwomen a 6-2 lead at the half.

Rensselaer sophomore netminder Allie Arnal (Lakewood, NY/Phillips Exeter Academy) made nine saves, while Alexis Deeb came up with five stops to earn the win.

Union advances to the championship game tomorrow afternoon (3pm), where it will face the top-seeded and host Hamilton.