TROY, N.Y. – Freshman Emily Kaplan scored her third game-winning goal in the last four games to lead the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) women's soccer team past Rutgers University-Camden, on Wednesday at East Campus Stadium. With the win, the Engineers improve to 9-2 overall, while the Scarlet Raptors drop to 4-5-2.

Just 54 seconds into the second session of overtime, junior center back Bethany Hanson (Fullerton, CA/Sunny Hills) delivered a 40 yard ball behind the Rutgers-Camden defense that found the stride of Kaplan (Smithtown, NY/Hauppauge). The winger took two dribbles before slotting home her team-leading sixth goal of the year for the 101st-minute winner, under the slide of Scarlet Raptors junior goalkeeper Katie Gurba (Westhampton, NJ/Holy Cross).

Rensselaer freshman Jacqui Richard (Southwick, MA/Westminster School) opened the scoring in the eighth minute, receiving a pass across the top of the box from junior Stephanie May (Windham, NH/Central Catholic) and ripping a shot, just under the crossbar, from 20 yards out. The tally was the first of her collegiate career.

Less than two minutes later, Richard nearly made it a double, but her right-footed try from the right side of the penalty area struck the inside of the left post and bounded back across the face of goal, before getting cleared away for a corner kick.
Rensselaer had another chance in the 18th minute, when senior Cori Winslow (Ballston Spa, NY/Ballston Spa) had her shot cleared off the line by Rutgers-Camden sophomore Brielle Stoner (Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape).

The Engineers had back-to-back chances in the 25th minute, when Gurba was forced to come off of her line to deny Kaplan and junior Jessica Dabney (Austin, TX/James Bowie), who both had well struck shots from the of the 18. Kaplan's attempt was parried right to Dabney, who drilled the ball right into the waiting arms of Gurba.

RPI found the woodwork for a second time in the 68th minute, Kaplan nailed the crossbar from inside the box.

Rutgers-Camden equalized in the 69th minute, when freshman Nicolette Stafford (Swedesboro, NJ/Kingsway Regional) rolled a shot inside the left post for her second goal of the season. An assist went to senior Catherine Fiore (Collingswood, NJ/Paul VI).

Rensselaer freshman goalie Joey Lyons (Harwood, MD/Southern) finished with five saves, while Gurba had seven.

The Engineers return to Liberty League play on Saturday, when they host Vassar for Reunion & Homecoming Weekend (5pm). It's also Senior Day for the women's soccer program. Rutgers-Camden hosts New Jersey City for Senior Day on Saturday (1pm).