TROY, NY — The No. 25 RPI field hockey team completed its historic regular season with a 4-2 Liberty League victory over Vassar this afternoon at Harkness Field. The Engineers improved to 14-2 overall and finished a perfect 7-0 in conference play while extending their program-record winning streak to 13 consecutive games.
RPI established control early, generating eight penalty corners in the opening quarter and taking the lead when
Ella Pasquarelli finished a setup from
Sophia Brown. The Engineers produced six shots during the period while limiting Vassar to just one attempt to carry the 1-0 advantage into the second quarter.
The Engineers added two more goals before halftime. Brown doubled the advantage off an assist from Pasquarelli before
Emily Frey converted a feed from
Emily Dubord to make it 3-0. RPI held a 9-3 advantage in shots through the opening half and put eight of those attempts on goal.
Vassar responded after the break, with Sophia Jammar scoring in the third quarter to trim the RPI advantage to 3-1. The Brewers continued their push early in the fourth when Karina Hoffman found the back of the cage, pulling the visitors within one.
RPI answered with an important insurance goal later in the final period. Frey helped set up Brown for her second goal of the afternoon, restoring the Engineers' two-goal cushion at 4-2. The RPI defense held Vassar scoreless over the remainder of the contest to close out the regular season with another conference victory.
Brown led the Engineers with two goals and an assist while placing all four of her shots on target. Pasquarelli contributed a goal and an assist, while Frey also finished with a goal and an assist. Dubord added an assist and put her lone shot on goal.
Kennedy Campbell recorded three shots, including two on target, while
Katie Galgay added two shots on goal.
RPI finished with a 16-11 advantage in total shots and a 14-6 edge in shots on goal. The Engineers also earned 13 penalty corners compared to five for Vassar.
Olivia Brovak played all 60 minutes in goal and made four saves to secure the victory.
Having already secured the first Liberty League regular season championship in program history, RPI will enter the conference tournament as the top seed. The Engineers receive a first-round bye and will return to Harkness Field on Friday to host a Liberty League semifinal matchup.
