Box Score

TROY, N.Y. – Freshman Taylor Korytko netted the eventual game-winning goal as four different players found the back of the net for the Rensselaer women's soccer team, which defeated Simmons College, 4-2, in the Rensselaer Invitational at East Campus Stadium. With the win, the Engineers improve to 1-2-1 on the season, while the Sharks fall to 1-2.

Sophomore Sara Rothschild (Manlius, NY/Fayetteville-Manlius) opened the scoring in the 10th minute. Dribbling in from the right flank, she lofted a left-footed shot inside the far post for a 1-0 lead. The goal was Rothschild's first of the season and sixth of her career.

Classmate Alex Shaw (Jamison, PA/Central Bucks HS East) added to the hosts lead, less than a minute later, when she rifled home a shot from 25 yards out. The tally, which was the first of her collegiate career, gave RPI a 2-0 advantage.

Rensselaer made it 3-0 in the 26th minute, when freshman Taylor Korytko (Tampa, FL/Hamilton) headed home her second goal of the season, off of a corner kick. Shaw dropped an in-swinging cross into the box that deflected off of a defender and directly to Korytko, who beat Simmons sophomore goalkeeper Ashley Wheeler (Nashua, NH/Nashua), under the crossbar.

Sharks sophomore striker Desh Perera (Reading, MA/Reading) brought the visitors to within, 3-1, in the 37th minute, when she beat Rensselaer sophomore goalie Stephanie Vargas (Fogelsville, PA/Allentown Central Catholic) low and inside the left post from 18 yards out. It was Perera's second marker in as many games.

Junior midfielder Justine Beauchamp (Exeter, NH/Exeter) netted the first goal of the second half to draw Simmons to within a goal (3-2) in the 68th minute of play. Dribbling across the top of the penalty area, she ripped a shot that grazed the bottom of the crossbar before finding its way into the back of the net.

The Engineers answered eight minutes later (76th minute) on a goal by sophomore Giana Abballe (Old Tappan, NJ/Northern Valley Regional). Junior Kelsey Byrne (Rye, NH/Portsmouth) made a run up the left wing, before slipping a ball across the box for Abballe, who one-timed home her first of the year.

Vargas (1-0) made three saves to earn the win, while Wheeler (1-2) had nine saves at the other end of the pitch.

RPI is back action tomorrow afternoon, when it hosts Buffalo State College in the final game of the Rensselaer Invitational (3pm). Simmons faces Union College at (12pm). Both games will take place at RPI's East Campus Stadium.