TROY, N.Y. – Powered by goals from four different scorers and solid defense throughout, the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) field hockey team blanked Hartwick College, 4-0 in non-conference action at Harkness Field. With the victory, the Engineers move to 2-1 on the young season, while the Hawks drop to 1-3 overall.

Rensselaer got things started early as senior Erika Hawksley (Windsor, ME/Erskine Academy) scored at the 6:26 mark. Junior Alissa Peterson (Gaithersburg, MD/Quince Orchard) garnered the assist after she crossed the ball from the right side to Hawksley, who buried it past Hartwick keeper Devyn Staley (Greene, NY/Greene).

The Engineers continued to pressure and the persistence paid off at 22:04 as sophomore Kelsey Porter (Quechee, VT/Hartford) collected a pass near the left corner of the box before shifting it toward the middle in traffic. Junior Carlie Newcomb (Southwick, MA/Southwick Tolland Regional) found the ball and sent it past a sprawling Staley for the 2-0 advantage.

RPI's defense was dominant in the opening half as the Engineers held the Hawks to just two shots in the stanza. Both chances came within seconds of one another as freshman Lindsey Daley (Watertown, MA/Watertown) and classmate Abby Wentlent (Greene, NY/Greene) each fired close range shots at the RPI goal, but netminder Briana Earle (Baldwinsville, NY/C.W. Baker) was there for the saves.

The second half saw the Engineers score less than five minutes into the frame as Peterson backhanded a pass from rookie Liana Viaggio (Mahopac, NY/Mahopac) past Staley at the 39:56 mark.

Sophomore Kierstan Ryan (Levittown, PA/Harry S. Truman) then made it a four-goal lead for the home team at 56:54. Positioned in front of the goal, Ryan corralled a backhanded pass from Peterson on the left side and sent the shot beyond the reach of Hawks relief goalie Megan Campbell (Rutland, MA/Wachusett Regional). 

Rensselaer stayed strong defensively down the stretch, allowing just one shot on goal by Hartwick in the second half. In goal, Earle was forced to make just three saves in the game, while Staley stopped three shots in 39:55 played. Campbell had one save in 30:05 of relief, while the Hawks also had a defensive save by sophomore Brittany Baughman (Niskayuna, NY/Niskayuna).

The Engineers finished with a 16-7 advantage in shots, including a 9-4 edge on goal. RPI also dominated the stat sheet in corners by a 9-4 margin.

Rensselaer returns to action on Saturday as it opens Liberty League play on the road at Skidmore (1pm). Hartwick is also back in action on Saturday as it heads plays at Washington & Jefferson (11:30am).