TROY, N.Y. – Junior Megan Shay scored seven goals to break the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) women's lacrosse single-season program record in a 17-12 victory over Clarkson University on Saturday afternoon at Renwyck Field. With the win, the Engineers improve to 11-4 overall (7-3 Liberty League), while the Golden Knights drop to 9-5 (4-5 Liberty League).

Shay (Rochester, MA / Old Rochester Regional) surpassed the previous school mark of 51 goals, which was set by Alissa Peterson '13 during the 2013 season. Her seven tallies on the day gives her 53 in 15 games this season.

RPI got out to a fast start, scoring the first four goals of the contest in 6:29 of play. Shay netted two of those goals, including an extra play marker with 9:31 left in the first quarter.

Clarkson sophomore Madelynn Barnum Middlebury, VT / Middlebury Union) got the visitors on the board with 6:04 on the clock in the opening frame.

The Engineers answered with back-to-back tallies from junior Rylie Maready (Colorado Springs, CO / Cheyenne Mountain) and senior Sabrina Torcellini (Branford, CT / Branford) to open up a 6-1 advantage with 2:38 left in the first.

Sophomore Lauren Meyers (Rensselaer, NY / Averill Park) stuck home a late first quarter marker to make it 6-2 after one.

Shay and Clarkson junior Julia Lavarnway (Watertown, NY / Watertown) traded goals in the opening minute of the second, before Maready put the hosts up 8-3 with 12:27 to go in the first half.

Exactly six minutes later, Barnum buried a man-up tally to draw within 8-4.

RPI fought back once again, getting tallies from Shay and Torcellini in a span of 1:22 late in the second, but Golden Knights sophomore Hailey Millington (Rome, NY / Rome Free Academy) scored the first of her team-best three goals on the day to close out the half.

Millington then scored to open the second half and draw Clarkson within 10-6 with 14:07 remaining in the third.

The Engineers then created some separating, scoring three straight, including Shay's record-breaking 52nd of the season, to building a 14-7 advantage. Shay took the opening draw of the fourth quarter and marched right through the Clarkson defense, before powering home her sixth of the contest.

Both teams then traded tallies until Shay potted her seventh of the game and 53rd of the year with 7:04 left in the game, giving Rensselaer a 16-10 cushion.

Millington and Chrissy Benedict (Akwesane, NY / Massena) scored back-to-back to get Clarkson back within 16-12, but Torcellini closed out the contest with her 27th tally of the year for the Engineers.

RPI finished with a narrow 39-34 edge in shots, but outdrew the Golden Knights, 21-12, including 12-5 in the first half. Maready and senior Christina Rogers (Foxborough, MA / Foxborough) each had eight draws to lead the way.

Aiding Shay offensively was Torcellini (4 goals, 1 assist) with five points and freshman Lauren DeLeo (Wyckoff, NJ / Ramapo), who notched two goals and two assists.

Sophomore Jenny Canfield (Great Falls, VA / Langley) was stellar in net for the Engineers, stopping 12 shots, including four in the fourth quarter to help secure the victory. Clarkson senior Sydney Christiansen (Ballston Spa, NY / Albany Academy) had 10 stops at the other end of the field.

The Engineers are back in action on Tuesday, when they host Union College in the Liberty League Quarterfinals at Renwyck Field (TBA). Clarkson travels to Ithaca on Tuesday (TBA).