TROY, NY — The #20 nationally-ranked RPI field hockey team scored three times in the fourth quarter and held Rochester without a shot on goal as the Engineers earned a 3-0 victory in the Liberty League semifinal this afternoon at Harkness Field.
The victory improved RPI to 15-2 on the season and extended the Engineers' program-record winning streak to 14 consecutive games. RPI advances to the Liberty League Championship game, which the Engineers will host Sunday at 1 p.m. against Union at Harkness Field.
The two sides battled through a scoreless opening half, with RPI producing four shots and five penalty corners while Rochester generated four attempts and four corners. Ria Patel provided the Engineers' best opportunity in the opening quarter, forcing a save from Rochester goalkeeper Riley Leeser, while Sophia Brown put another shot on target early in the second.
RPI's defense kept Rochester from putting a shot on goal throughout the first half. The Yellowjackets generated three attempts in the opening quarter and one more late in the second, but each was sent wide, high or blocked as the teams entered halftime tied 0-0.
Neither team found the breakthrough in the third quarter. Brown had an attempt blocked and Patel sent another shot wide for the Engineers, while the RPI defense held Rochester without a shot during the period to keep the game scoreless entering the final 15 minutes.
The Engineers quickly changed the complexion of the contest in the fourth. After earning consecutive penalty corners, Emily Frey finished a setup from Emily Dubord to give RPI the lead.
RPI doubled the advantage later in the quarter when Val Palmiotti converted a penalty stroke for a 2-0 lead. The Engineers continued to control play down the stretch before Katie Galgay added the final tally in the closing seconds, finishing after Kennedy Campbell had forced a save from Leeser to produce the 3-0 final.
Frey, Palmiotti and Galgay accounted for the three RPI goals, while Dubord recorded the game's lone assist. Campbell led the Engineers with three shots, while Brown also registered three attempts. Patel finished with two shots, and Galgay, Frey and Palmiotti each scored on their only shot of the afternoon.
RPI finished with an 11-4 advantage in total shots, including a 6-0 edge in shots on goal, and earned nine penalty corners compared to five for Rochester. Olivia Brovak played all 60 minutes in goal and recorded the shutout as the Engineers prevented the Yellowjackets from registering a shot on target.
After securing the first Liberty League regular season championship in program history and the top seed in the conference tournament, RPI will now play for the league championship on its home field. The Engineers will host Union at Harkness Field on Sunday at 1 p.m. with the Liberty League title on the line.
