TROY, N.Y. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) women's soccer team opened up their 2023 season at ECAV Stadium on Friday night, and played to a draw with No. 21 SUNY Cortland by 1-1 final score.
 
It only took six minutes for the Engineers to get their first tally of the season, as a handball in the box gave RPI a penalty kick opportunity. Senior Gwen Barnes converted the opportunity, hitting the bottom right corner of the net to give the Engineers a 1-0 lead.
 
Cortland gained an equalizer in the 32^nd minute, as a scramble in the box turned into a scoring opportunity for the Red Dragons. A header from Gianna Piscopiello fell to the foot of Jayden Kelley, who slid and rolled a ball past Megan Wampner to tie the game at 1-1.
 
The score remained tied through halftime and into the second half. A standout play from Greta Heldman in the opening minutes of the second half helped keep things scoreless. Cortland could not convert on a few other scoring chances early on in the second half, and outshot the Engineers down the stretch 6-0.
 
Wampner was strong in the box, making two saves on the night. The Engineers collected six shots total, with four on frame. For Cortland, Katie Cosenza had three shots of the Red Dragons' 12 on the night.
 
RPI returns to action on Sunday, Sept. 3 at 4 p.m. when they take on New Paltz at ECAV Stadium.