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ITHACA, N.Y. - Freshman Olivia Jackson scored 9:38 into overtime to lift the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) field hockey team to a 2-1 victory over Ithaca College in a Liberty League contest at Higgins Stadium. The win was the second in a row and third in the last four games for the Engineers, who improve to 4-11 overall and 3-4 in the conference. The Bombers fall to 6-9 and 1-6.

Jackson notched her game-winner when she redirected a point shot from Mekayla Wakeman through the goalkeeper's legs off a penalty corner. Junior Taylor Clink also picked up an assist as she injected the ball for Rensselaer, which had an extra player because an Ithaca player was assessed a yellow card. 

Trailing 1-0 in the second half, RPI battled back with some significant offensive pressure during the latter stages of the frame. Sustained pressure led to a solid scoring chance for Mikaela DiBello, but she could not convert. A penalty corner ensued, however, and the Engineers knotted the score when Megan Jones inserted the ball to Wakeman on the right side of the arc. The senior defender rocketed a hard shot through traffic that deflected off freshman goalie Ariyahna Bernard's pad and just inside the right post in the 63rd minute.

Ithaca took the lead in the 40th minute when working on its third penalty corner of the frame just 4:30 into the second half, Amanda Schell connected for her third goal of the season. Sophomore Kendall Keil started the play from the end-line, sending in a perfect near-side insert to junior Kimmy Briscoe on the left side of the arc. Her pass towards the cage was stopped by Maria McGloin in front, who deftly sent a pass back to Schell who was open in the slot. The senior whipped a low shot into the bottom left of the cage.

That would be the only goal allowed by junior Kayla Bell, who finished with 15 saves, including 11 in the first half. She was helped by Mac Reininger, who had two defensive saves, and Lauren Hiltz, who had one. 

Ithaca's Savanna Lenker stopped all six shot she faced before leaving the game due to injury. Bernard finished with three saves for the Bombers, who had a 24-20 edge in shots. Rensselaer had the lead in penalty corners, 14-10. 

The Engineers return to action on Wednesday when they play at SUNY New Paltz in their final road game of the season.