TROY, NY — The RPI field hockey team made program history this afternoon, clinching its first Liberty League regular season championship with a 1-0 victory over Ithaca at Harkness Field.
The Engineers improved to 13-2 overall and a perfect 6-0 in Liberty League play while extending their program-record winning streak to 12 consecutive games.
RPI and Ithaca battled through a scoreless opening half, with both sides generating opportunities but neither able to break through. The Engineers earned four penalty corners in the first quarter, while
Emily Dubord produced RPI's first shot on goal.
Olivia Brovak answered at the opposite end with a save on Abby Hennessy to keep the game scoreless through the opening period.
Ithaca applied more pressure in the second quarter, producing four shots and two penalty corners. Brovak turned aside an attempt from Breeah Shaw late in the half, while the RPI defense blocked two additional opportunities to send the contest into halftime tied 0-0.
The Engineers finally broke the deadlock in the third quarter.
Ella Pasquarelli finished a setup from Dubord to give RPI the 1-0 advantage and provide what ultimately stood as the game-winning goal.
RPI's defense protected the one-goal margin throughout the fourth quarter. Ithaca earned three penalty corners and generated two shots, but Brovak stopped Amelia MacDonald's attempt to preserve the shutout. The Engineers also created late chances of their own, with Dubord putting two shots on goal that were turned aside by Ithaca goalkeeper Maeve Clark.
Dubord led the RPI attack with three shots on goal and the assist on Pasquarelli's decisive tally. Pasquarelli scored on her only shot of the contest, while
Kennedy Campbell recorded two attempts and
Val Palmiotti added another.
Brovak made three saves to record the shutout. Ithaca finished with a narrow 8-7 advantage in total shots and a 7-6 edge in penalty corners, while RPI held a 4-3 advantage in shots on goal.
