TROY, N.Y. – Junior Liz Brady dished out a career-high six assists to lead the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) women's lacrosse team to an 11-9 victory over SUNY Oneonta in the season-opener for both teams at chilly Renwyck Field on Thursday afternoon. The win sends the Engineers to a 1-0 start, while the Red Dragons are 0-1.

RPI got off to a hot start at both ends of the field, scoring four times in the opening six minutes. Senior Michelle Bolger (Williston, VT/Rice Memorial) netted the last two tallies during the run, with Brady (Bradford, MA/Haverhill) assisting on both. Defensively, senior goaltender Aleena Milinski (Beaver Falls, PA/Blackhawk) stopped the only two shots she saw in the opening 11 minutes.

Oneonta broke onto the board with 17:51 left in the first half, when sophomore Sophia Calabrese (Bethlehem, NY/Bethlehem Central) buried a free position attempt for her first goal of the year. She was denied from the 12-meter arc minutes earlier.

Five straight stops in net for Milinski helped the Engineers maintain their 4-1 lead over the middle third of the opening half, before sophomore Bri Zipprich (Bennington, VT/Mount Anthony Union) stuck home her first collegiate goal to push the lead to 5-1. Milinski then collected three more saves, before allowing a second goal with 7:11 remaining in the half.

Senior Kelsey Cohen (Baldwin, NY/Baldwin) made it two straight for the Red Dragons with 6:32 left in the half, before Calabrese made it a one-goal game (5-4) with 4:13 on the clock. The two teams then traded two goals each, leaving the Engineers ahead 7-6 at halftime.

The hosts were once again stingy to the open the second half, holding Oneonta to just two shots on goal in the first nine minutes of the period – both saves by Milinski. Tallies from Bolger and Guiry opened up a 9-6 advantage, 9:10 into the frame.

Cohen's third and fourth goals of the contest quickly cut the deficit to one (9-8), before Varone took a feed from Calabrese to knot the score at 9-9 with 15:56 to play.

Sophomore Nora Molino (Niskayuna, NY/Niskayuna) put the Engineers up for good with 6:49 remaining and senior Abbey Salvon (Longmeadow, MA/Longmeadow) adding an insurance tally three minutes later. RPI allowed just two shots on goal over the final 15 minutes, with Milinski recording her 11th and 12th saves of the day.

Aiding Brady offensively was Guiry and Bolger, who each netted three goals. Molino chipped in with two and game-highs in draw controls (7) and ground balls (4). Defensively, senior Erin Goodwin (Kensington, CT/Berlin) had a game-high three caused turnovers.

Oneonta saw Cohen finish with four goals on a game-best 11 shots. Calabrese had two goals and two assists. Defensively, Junior Lexi Keen (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) had nine saves, with senior Lauren Bascelli (Williston Park, NY/Herricks) leading the team in ground balls (3) and caused turnovers (2).

The Engineers return to action on Monday, when they take on Muhlenberg College in Bluffton, S.C. (11am). Oneonta hosts Farmingdale State tomorrow (3pm).