Box Score | Liberty League Standings | Highlights

TROY, N.Y. - Senior Rachel Kaufman made three saves and the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) field hockey team scored two second half goals on its way to defeating William Smith College in a critical Liberty League contest at Harkness Field. With the victory, Rensselaer improves to 3-3 in the conference and controls its opportunity to qualify for the Liberty League Tournament. They are now 4-10 overall. The Herons drop to 2-4 in the league, which is tied for fifth place, and 5-9 overall. The top four teams advance to the post-season.
 
Senior Taylor Clink put RPI in front 4:51 into the second frame when she converted a Casey Collette insertion on a penalty corner. Clink's goal, which came on a long, low drive through traffic that found the left corner of the cage, was her first of the season.
 
Freshman Kaitlyn Stulen doubled the lead when she scored her second of the season off a rebound of a Charisse Stakutis shot in the 50th minute. Stakutis swept a shot from the left side that deflected off a William Smith defender's ankle and right to Stulen, who tapped it across the goal line.
 
The first half was even throughout as both teams managed three shots and five total penalty corners, including three for the Engineers. Kaufman had two saves, while sophomore Alexandra DeVito stopped one shot. The William Smith keeper finished with seven saves, while Kaufman had one in the second half to pick up her second straight shutout.
 
The final shots favored Rensselaer, 19-8, while the Engineers had a 13-6 advantage in penalty corners. RPI, which is now 4-3 in its last seven games - with two of the losses coming in overtime – got eight shots from Stakutis, who put three on goal. Kelsey Pierce had four shots (2 on goal) for the visitors.
 
Both teams return to action on Sunday with the Engineers at No. 6 University of Rochester and the Herons hosting No. 9 Vassar College. RPI plays at noon and William Smith at 1pm.