Box Score |
RPI Athletics on InstagramGENEVA, N.Y. - The fifth-ranked William Smith College field hockey team scored four unanswered goals as it defeated Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) 5-1 in the Liberty League opener for both teams. Sophomore Hannah Wood recorded a game-high four points in the victory.
Wood opened the game's scoring in the 14th minute, converting off a penalty corner. Fellow sophomore Maura Moran inserted the ball to junior Cydney Conley at the top of the arc. Conley stopped the ball for Wood to tee up and blast a shot into the back of the net. Just under three minutes later, Wood scored again when she collected a pass from sophomore Alexandra Frary. Wood fired home a shot from just inside the right post.
William Smith (8-0, 1-0) took a 3-0 lead when junior Alessandra Patrizio recorded her team-leading 15th goal of the season in the 31st minute. After a penalty corner, the Engineers' Talyor Clink recorded a defensive save, stopping a Wood shot from right in front of the cage. Patrizio collected the rebound and tucked the ball over the goal line.
Early in the second half, Moran added a goal of her own, converting on her third penalty stroke goal of the season to put the Herons up 4-0.
Rensselaer (5-3, 0-1) got on the board in the 42nd minute when senior
Angela Cascio scored her fifth goal of the year. She collected a rebound and steered the ball into the back of the net.
Junior Jessica Borbee scored in the 59th minute to give William Smith a 5-1 lead. Frary collected the ball at the top of the arc and slid a pass to Borbee who lifted the shot over the Engineers' goalie. The goal was her first of the season.
Patrizio and Wood entered the game among the top-10 in the nation in scoring. The duo has scored at least one goal in each of the Herons' first eight games.
Junior Biz Chirco got the start in goal for William Smith and made four saves.
Kayla Bell started for Rensselaer and made 11 saves. In addition to Clink's defensive save,
Mac Reininger recorded a defensive save early in the second half, robbing Wood on a shot off of a penalty corner.
Despite the Engineers controlling the tempo early in the first half, the Herons recorded 24 shots to Rensselaer's 7. William Smith also held an 8-4 edge in penalty corners.
RPI is back in action on Saturday when it hosts St. Lawrene University in a conference matchup (11am). William Smith plays on Wednesday at Ithaca in a non-conference game (7pm).
