TROY, N.Y. - The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) field hockey team is being led by junior Abby Peterson and senior Dani Samuelson as captains, head coach Bre Lowe has announced. Both are in their first seasons in that role with the Engineers. 

Peterson (Glastonbury, CT / Glastonbury) is a midfielder who has played 39 career games, including 35 as a starter. She has seven goals and four assists for 18 points to go with 60 shots (30 on goal). Two of her markers have been game-winners. The chemical engineering major also has two defensive saves.

A starter in all eight games this season, Peterson has four goals and nine points on 21 shots. She is tied for the team lead in goals and ranks second in points. As a sophomore, she had two goals and an assist with 20 shots, including 10 on goal.

An attack, Samuelson (Short Hills, NJ / Millburn) has an assist through the first eight games, giving her 12 points with five goals in 36 career games (the 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic). 

Four of her goals came in 2022 when she had 17 shots (11 on goal) in 17 games. A mechanical engineering and design, innovation, and society dual major, Samuelson had a goal and an assist in 11 games in her first season.

This year's squad has won three straight games to improve to 3-5. The Engineers begin Liberty League play on Wednesday at Vassar College (5pm) before hosting conference foe University of Rochester on Saturday (12pm).