How Has Rensselaer Changed Your World?TROY, N.Y. - Madison Finn scored the gamewinner on a penalty stroke to lead William Smith to a 2-1 win over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Liberty League action on Saturday afternoon at Harkness Field, as a part of RPI's Reunion & Homecoming Weekend. With the loss, the Engineers fall to 4-7 overall, with a 2-4 mark in league play, while the Herons improve to 9-4, and 3-2 in the conference.
William Smith got on the board first, taking a 1-0 lead at 21:22 into the first half. Erin Miller (Glen Gardner, NJ / Voorhees) carred the ball into the circle before passing it off to Hannah Wood (Sidney, NY / Sidney) directly in front of the cage. Wood one-timed a shot past RPI goalkeeper
Hannah Clough (Acton, MA / Acton-Boxborough Regional) for the score.
The Herons doubled their score just 2:24 into the second half, on a penalty stroke by Finn (Short Hills, NJ / Millburn). RPI got on the board less than four minutes later, as freshman
Kate Batzinger (Niskayuna, NY / Niskayuna) collected a rebound off an intial shot and found the back of the cage. The Engineers got several more opportunities in the second half, as they outshot William Smith, 15-12, but Heron goalkeeper Catherine Hare recorded ten saves to preserve the win.
Both teams recorded 20 shots in the game, while William Smith held a 10-3 advantage in penalty corners, including 8-1 in the second half. Clough recorded 12 saves for the Engineers in a complete-game effort, while Hare finished with all ten saves coming in the second half.
Rensselaer will return to action on Wednesday, visiting Keene State in non-conference play at 6 p.m.