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TROY, N.Y. - Sophomore Megan Jones scored twice and the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) field hockey team outshot Hartwick College 34-15 in defeating the Hawks 3-1 in a non-league contest at Harkness Field. The game was the season opener for both teams. 

Hartwick took the lead at 12:46 of the first half on a goal by sophomore forward Claudia Stone (Akron, NY / Akron), but the Engineers answered with a marker of their own off the stick of freshman Mikaela DiBello (Mahopac, NY / Mahopac) just over two minutes later. Jones (Stevensville, MD / Kent Island) then scored her first of the season and fourth of her career at the 31-minute mark and RPI led 2-1 at halftime. Her second tally, which came at 43:11, provided breathing room and the Engineers held off several strong Hartwick opportunities.

Sophomore Hilary Fiorentino (West Deptford, NJ / Gloucester County Institute of Technology) stopped five shots in the first half to earn the win, while freshman Rachel Kaufman (Morristown, NJ / Morristown) had four second half saves in relief. Junior Shannon Carter (Falls Church, VA / J.E.B. Stuart) had 12 saves for Hartwick, which was outshot, 34-15. Rensselaer held a 17-6 edge in penalty corners.

HOW THEY HAPPENED:

• Goal No. 1: Claudia Stone causes a turnover at midfield, receives the ball on the run and gets around two defenders before scoring into the right side of the goal (12:46)
• Goal No. 2: Mikaela DiBello whacks at the ball on a scramble in front of the cage and ties the game (14:58)
• Goal No. 3: With the goalie down after diving for the ball, Megan Jones picks up the loose ball and scores high into the cage (31:00)
• Goal No. 4: Hana Murphy swiftly crosses the ball to Megan Jones, who deflects it past everyone and into the back of the cage

GOALIE'S BEST FRIEND:

• Ahead 3-1 in the second half, Hartwick had two outstanding chances to score off a penalty corner only to see the initial shot blocked and the second shot carom off the crossbar

KEY STOPS:

• RPI goaltender Rachel Kaufman stopped three shots in sequence, including kicking two away off the stick of Claudia Stone, to keep the Engineers ahead by two (3-1) late in the second half

STROKES:

• Rensselaer sophomore Kate Batzinger (Niskayuna, NY / Niskayuna) had a penalty stroke in the first half and the game scoreless but shot wide left
• Hartwick junior Maxine Dunn (Peterborough, NH / Conval) had a penalty stroke in the second half and her team trailing 3-1 but shot wide left

UP NEXT:

• The Engineers travel to No. 14 Mount Holyoke for a game on Saturday (1pm) before hosting Geneseo on Sunday at Harkness Field (12pm)
• Hartwick hosts Oneonta on September 9 at Wright Stadium (4pm)