Box Score | Season Preview Video

TROY, N.Y. - Sophomore forward Allyson Quirk had the eventual game-winning goal with an assist and the Hartwick College field hockey team held off Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), 3-2, at Harkness Field in the season opener for both teams. The Engineers, who had 14 penalty corners in the second half, including an attempt after time expired, is back in action on Sunday at Mount Holyoke College. The Hawks make their home debut on Sunday against Keuka College.

Rensselaer took a 1-0 lead at 21:10 when junior Taylor Clink (Binghamton, NY / Whitney Point) scored into the top left corner on a penalty stroke. Hartwick needed just 4:09 to knot the game as Quirk (Longmeadow, MA / Longmeadow) drove the ball down the right side, crossed the ball in front and found senior Claudia Stone (Akron, NY / Akron), who scored.

The score remained 1-1 at the half despite a total of 20 shots being taken. RPI's Rachel Kaufman (Morristown, NJ / Morristown) stopped 10 attempts in the first 35 minutes. Hartwick's Allyson Osbourne (Nottingham, PA / Solanco) had three first half saves.

Sophomore Bella Wheeler (Cazenovia, NY / Cazenovia) broke the tie just 2:02 into the second half when she swept in a ball from Brooke Singer (Johnson City, NY / Maine-Endwell Sr.) and Quirk made it 3-1 when she finished a Maria Stadler (New Woodstock, NY / Cazenovia) cross from in front of the cage at 43:36.

RPI responded immediately, getting sustained pressure on Hartwick's cage, which led to numerous penalty corners that resulted in shot attempts. The Engineers cut their deficit to one when junior Mikaela DiBello (Mahopac, NY / Mahopac) slipped the ball through Osbourne and to senior Megan Jones (Stevensville, MD / Kent Island), who scored while cutting to the goal at 49:41.

DiBello had a strong bid to tie the game with approximately 9:30 left, but Osbourne made a save on the junior's turnaround shot, which came in front on the the right side of the goal.

Rensselaer had one final bid after the horn sounded, but Hartwick gained control off a penalty corner to clinch the win. 

The Engineers held a 16-8 edge in corners and a 24-20 margin in shots, including 16-8 in the second half. Kaufman finished with 10 saves, while Christina Hanos (New City, NY / Clarkstown South) had a defensive save. Osbourne, a freshman, had nine saves in her collegiate debut.