Box Score

TROY, N.Y. – Sophomore striker Mollie Gilchrist scored off of a cross by senior Giovanna Velardo in the 62nd minute, to lead the 13th-ranked Union College women's soccer team to a, 2-1, victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), this evening in Liberty League action at East Campus Stadium. With the win, the Dutchwomen improve to 13-1 overall (5-1 LL), while the Engineers, who fall for the first time in league play, move to 9-5 (5-1 LL).

In a 1-1 contest, midway through the second half, Velardo (Stormville, NY/Our Lady of Lourdes) worked the ball to the end line, before sending a cross into the middle of the penalty area. Gilchrist (Johnsonville, NY/Hoosic Valley Central) ran onto the ball and buried her eighth of the season from close range.

Union senior Jennifer Mansfield (Hopewell Junction, NY/John Jay) nearly made a two-goal game in the 73rd minute, but her shot from the left side of the box found the right post before bouncing directly into the arms of RPI junior goalkeeper Steph Vargas (Fogelsville, PA/Allentown Central Catholic).

The Engineers best opportunity to tie the game came in the 88th minute of play, when senior captain Kirsten Bombardier (Colchester, VT/Colchester) headed a Rachel Tietzen (Kelowna, BC/Kelowna Secondary School) corner back across the face of the Union goal. Sophomore Taylor Korytko (Tampa, FL/Hamilton) was there to knock the ball towards the net on a back-heel, but it was ruled that Dutchwomen goalie Kayla Marti (Newburgh, NY/Newburgh Free Academy) snagged the ball before it cross the goal line.

Mansfield scored the game's first goal in the 39th minute, off a flick-on header by sophomore Whitney Bickford (Pennington, NJ/Hopewell Valley Central). Mansfield corralled the redirected header just outside the Rensselaer six-yard box and finished low to Vargas' right side.

Less than a minute later, the Engineers answered as senior Shannon Maguire (Randolph, NJ/Randolph) found classmate Nikki Goodsell (Danbury, CT/Danbury) streaking into the left side of the penalty area. From there, Goodsell ripped a low shot that found its way just inside the far post, evening the score at one-all.

Marti (13-1) finished with two saves to earn the win, while Vargas (4-2) stopped two shots of her own at the other end of the field.

The Engineers return to action on Saturday, when they visit Bard (2pm). Union hosts William Smith on Saturday (2pm).