TROY, N.Y. - Freshman Julie Thomas scored the game's only goal with 7:15 remaining in the fourth quarter and Jen Richardson made saves on all five shots she faced as the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) field hockey team defeated Hartwick College 1-0 in the first contest of the season for both teams.

Sophomore Lauren McCarthy set up the goal when she stole a pass in the offensive zone after a Hawks' restart and fed the ball to Thomas at the top of the arc. She let go a hard shot quickly that eluded goalkeeper Maddison Maddocks on the stick side and hit the back of the cage.

The goal was a culmination of heavy pressure in the fourth quarter by the Engineers, who at one point had three consecutive penalty corners that led to several shots. 

Richardson's best save came in the second quarter when she made a left pad stop on a hard shot from senior Sydney Gagnon midway through the second quarter. All five of Richardson's saves came in the first half.

RPI held the advantage in both shots (22-18) and corners (12-9) in the contest, including a 9-2 edge in the latter in the second half.

Maddocks, a senior, had seven saves with four coming after halftime.

Rensselaer is back in action on Saturday at 11am against Geneseo in Troy, while the Hawks play at Rochester on Saturday at noon.