CLINTON, N.Y. - No. 18 Hamilton College began its season with two goals in the first quarter and three in the third and the Continentals went on to defeat Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) field hockey team 7-0 in a non-league game at Goodfriend Field.

Hamilton got goals from six different student-athletes with Sarah Pierpont tallying twice. She also had an assist. Michaela Giuttari added a goal, the first of the game, with two assists.

Freshman Jen Richardson finished with seven saves for the Engineers (0-3), who were shut out for the first time this season. Rensselaer was facing its second straight nationally-ranked opponent.

Jen Richardson made seven stops for RPI. The Engineers' best scoring chance came early in the fourth quarter when Charlotte Avra hit the left post with a one-handed shot as she fell to the turf.

The Continentals grabbed a 1-0 lead 5:34 into the first quarter when Giuttari tipped a shot out of midair by Lizzie Clarke. Giuttari found Maddie Beitler for a 2-0 advantage with 1:16 left in the first and Cat Donahue made it a three-goal cushion on a blast off a penalty corner inserted by Pierpont with 10:00 remaining in the second quarter.

Kathryn Craine made it 4-0 just more than two minutes later after a shot by Donahue was blocked and she cleaned up the rebound for the Continentals, who play again on Saturday against NESCAC foe Bates (11am).

Rensselaer also returns to action on Saturday when it hosts Endicott College at 11am on Harkness Field.