Box Score | RPI Athletics on YouTube

TROY, N.Y. – Sophomore Cori Winslow scored the eventual game-winning goal in the 76th minute, to lead the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) women's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over SUNY Cortland, this afternoon at East Campus Stadium. With the win, the Engineers improve to 3-3-1, while the Red Dragons drop to 1-5.
 
Rensselaer had the better of the play early, as seniors Kasey Murphy (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville) and Sandy Kirk (Houston, TX/Clear Lake) both had attempts inside the Cortland penalty area in the seventh minute. Murphy's right-footed try was blocked, before Kirk saw her strike saved by Red Dragons sophomore goalkeeper Rachel Axt (Basking Ridge, NJ/Ridge).
 
Less than a minute later, freshman Dali Alarian (Folsom, CA/Vista del Lago) claimed a loose ball inside the six-yard box and poked it into the back of the net, to give the hosts a 1-0 lead. A cross from the right flank by Winslow (Ballston, Spa, NY/Ballston Spa) deflected to Alarian, who tapped home her first collegiate tally, before Axt could recover to make a save.
 
Senior captain Taylor Korytko (Chandler, AZ/Hamilton) had a chance to double the RPI lead in the 15th minute, but her header off an in-swinging corner kick by junior Shelby Stromerson (Snohomish, WA/Glacier Park) skimmed just wide of the left post.
 
Cortland drew level in the 34th minute, following a terrific breakaway save by RPI freshman goalkeeper Tori Riopelle (Ashburn, VA/Briar Woods). Red Dragons junior Meg Burke (Hopewell Junction, NY/Arlington) got behind the Engineers defense, but Riopelle came off her line to make a sliding stop. The ball popped out to the top of the 18 for senior Emily Whittle (Center Moriches, NY/Center Moriches), who lobbed a shot into the open net for her first of the season.
 
The game remained tied at halftime, with Rensselaer out-shooting the visitors by a 7-5 mark, including 2-1 on goal.
 
In the 63rd minute, Alarian drilled an attempt from 25 yards out that was headed for the top left corner of the net, but Axt was able to get a hand to it and tip it over the bar.
 
Winslow then gave the Engineers the lead back in the 76th minute, when she one-timed a cross from senior Sam Lamorte (Pawling, NY/Our Lady of Lourdes) past Axt for her second of the year. Lamorte carried the ball up the right side before slotting a low ball towards the front of the net. Winslow was the first to it and cracked a shot into the top half of the net.
 
RPI clamped down defensively the rest of the way to secure the win, not allowing a shot on goal in the second half. Riopelle (3-3-1) finished with one save, while Axt (1-4) had four for Cortland.
 
The Engineers close out their four-game homestand on Tuesday, when they host Mount Holyoke at East Campus Stadium (7:30pm). Cortland hosts SUNY New Paltz on Friday (4pm).