Box Score

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Junior Giana Abballe scored the eventual game-winning goal and assisted on another to lead the Rensselaer women's soccer team to a, 2-0, victory at Skidmore College, this evening in the Liberty League finale for both schools. With the win, the Engineers (11-5; 7-1 LL) claim the top seed in next week's Liberty League Tournament, which begins on Wednesday, October 31, while the Thoroughbreds drop to 3-9-2 overall (2-4-2 LL).

Abballe (Old Tappan, NJ/Northern Valley) broke a scoreless draw in the 15 minute when she collected her own rebound and finished past Skidmore junior goalkeeper Gab Lawrence (Yorktown, NY/Yorktown). The goal, which was her team-leading sixth of the season, was an unassisted tally.

The Engineers took the 1-0 lead into halftime, while out-shooting Skidmore 10-2. The Thoroughbreds did have a 3-1 advantage in corner kicks through 45 minutes of play.

Rensselaer doubled its lead in the 52nd minute, on a play started in the midfield by senior captain Nikki Goodsell (Danbury, CT/Danbury). Playing the ball up the left flank, Goodsell found the run of Abballe, who played a one-timed cross towards the middle of the Skidmore penalty area. Junior Sara Rothschild (Manlius, NY/Fayetteville-Manlius) beat Lawrence to the ball with a header that bounded into the back of the net, for her sixth of the year.

RPI junior goalie Steph Vargas (Fogelsville, PA/Allentown Catholic) made two saves (both in the second half) to earn her third shutout of the season. Lawrence made six saves, including four in the opening stanza, for Skidmore.

The Engineers travel to Oneonta to face Hartwick in a non-league contest on Saturday (6pm). Skidmore hosts Nazareth on Saturday (11am). RPI will welcome fourth-seeded Union College to Troy on Wednesday, while second-seed William Smith hosts third-seeded RIT. Times for both semifinal matches are TBD.