GENEVA, N.Y. - Junior Jen Richardson stopped all six shots she faced and Brianna Duba and Lauren McCarthy both scored second half goals as the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) field hockey team blanked William Smith College 2-0 in a critical Liberty League contest at McCooey Field. The Engineers improve to 8-7 overall and 4-2 in the conference, securing its place in second in the standings. The Herons drop to 5-9 and 1-5.

Richardson had three saves within a 1:26 span in the third quarter soon after the Engineers grabbed the lead. She had single saves in the first, second and fourth quarters with the final stop 3:25 into the frame. She improves to 8-7 with a 1.25 goals against average and a .757 save percentage. The shutout was the sixth of the season for Richardson, including her third solo effort.

RPI gained the lead with 11:35 remaining in the third quarter when Duba, also a junior, fired in a shot off a penalty corner feed from Kaitlyn Stulen. Duba's hard, low shot evaded William Smith goalkeeper Kristen McCormick, who tried to make a kick save but was unable to do so. The goal was the fifth of the season for Duba, who leads the team with 17 points.

The Engineers doubled the lead soon after a Herons green card gave them a player advantage. Nina Caprio stole a clearing attempt just outside the scoring circle and carried the ball in before sending the ball toward goal. It was picked up by teammate Lauren Roy, who batted it in McCormick's direction. The ball was knocked down but McCarthy, a freshman, was in position to lunge at it and lift it into the air and to the back of the cage for her fourth of the season. 

McCormick finished with four saves for the Herons, who held a 9-8 advantage in shots and a 7-5 edge in penalty corners. 

RPI, which is tied with Vassar for second place, but holds the tiebreaker, closes out the league slate on Sunday afternoon at noon when it hosts Rochester (10-5; 3-3 Liberty League). William Smith plays at Vassar on Sunday at noon.