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SOUTH HADLEY, MA – Diana Banmann scored at 45:35 to break a 2-2 tie and Mount Holyoke held on for the 3-2 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in non-conference field hockey action on Saturday. The Engineers now stand at 2-2 on the young season, while the Lyons improve to 3-0.

Mount Holyoke got things going at the 9:22 mark after junior midfielder Kirsten Kilburn (North Branford, CT/North Branford) made a solid individual effort. Rensselaer goaltender Hannah Clough (Acton, MA/Acton-Boxborough Regional) came out fron the goal about five yards to make a diving save but could not control the rebound as Kilburn dribbled right and fired the shot through traffic and into the back of the cage.

The visiting Engineers wasted little time in tying the game at 1-all as junior forward Catherine Mahoney (Troy, NY/Emma Willard School) deflected a shot from far outside into the wide open net, catching the Lyons' goalkeeper Liz DiCesare (Westford, Mass./Bishop Guertin) off guard.

Both teams continued to battle, but it was Mount Holyoke who gained the advantage with less than two minutes to go in the half. Settling the ball at the top of the circle, sophomore midfielder Sarah LaQuerre (Old Orchard Beach, ME/Cheverus) fired a shot toward the left side, and classmate Anna Hartman (Montpelier, VT/Montpelier) was there to save the off-angled shot, pushing it past Clough into the right corner.

In the second half of action, RPI made it a 2-2 game as senior midfielder Kelsey Porter (Quechee, VT/Hartford) corralled a pass from classmate Sarah Krolus (Westminster, MD/Garrison Forest School) and knocked it into the left corner of the cage, past the reach of DiCesare at 38:14.

Clough was outstanding for the Engineers, stopping a number of flurries by the Lyons, including three straight shots in the 44th minute.

Mount Holyoke's offensive persistence soon paid off as Banmann fired a perfectly placed pass from Kilburn into the left corner to give the Lyons a 3-2 advantage at 45:35.

It was a back-and-forth battle between the two teams over the final 15 minutes of the game. RPI made a number of outstanding shots late, but the Lyon defense stood tall in front of DiCesare, blocking shots from freshman Claire Cecilio (San Jose, CA/Archbishop Mitty) and Krolus, along with a DiCesare kick-save on the right side off a shot from junior forward Molly Zuk (Stoughton, MA/Stoughton).

Despite several turnovers in the final minute, Mount Holyoke was able to gain possession and hold on for the victory to remain undefeated.

The Lyons held a 32-16 advantage in shots and also led by a 15-10 edge in penalty corners. In goal, Clough stopped an impressive 20 shots for RPI, while DiCesare recorded five saves for Mount Holyoke.

RPI returns to action on Tuesday, hosting St. John Fisher at 5pm at Harkness Field.