#18 Rensselaer Improves to 8-2

#18 Rensselaer Improves to 8-2

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – Rensselaer scored two second half goals and freshman goalie Briana Earle recorded her league-best third shutout of the season as the Rensselaer field hockey team defeated Vassar, 2-0, in a Liberty League contest. The Red Hawks, the 18th-ranked team in the nation, improve to 8-2 overall and 3-0 in the league. Vassar has lost three straight games to drop to 3-7 and 0-3.

RPI junior forward Margaret Chowaniec (Burlington, CT/Lewis Mills) broke the scoreless tie at 47:41 with her first goal of the season following a nifty feed from junior forward Kristiina Baker (Bolton, MA/Nashoba Regional). Baker orchestrated her assist by breaking free from her defender along the baseline.

Rensselaer got an unassisted insurance goal from junior forward Shaina Feldman (Phoenixville, PA/Phoenixville Area) in a crowded crease with 25 seconds to play. She slipped her shot into the upper left corner of the net.

Earle (Baldwinsville, NY/C.W. Baker), the Liberty League Rookie of the Week each of the past two weeks, finished with two saves, including one in each half.

Vassar senior goalie Taylor Herman (Flemington, NJ/Hunterdon Central), made eight saves in the game, including seven in the first half.

Rensselaer, which is in first place in the Liberty League, outshot the Brewers, 19-11, including 8-2 in the first half. Senior forward Lisa Pak (Methuen, MA/Methuen) led the way with four shots while eight other Red Hawks registered at least one shot. RPI had 16 penalty corners to Vassar’s seven.

Brewers' sophomore forward Jessica Lance (Enfield, CT/Enfield) had a game-high six shots on goal.

RPI returns to the field on October 10 at league foe Hamilton (4pm). Vassar is back in action the same day at St. Lawrence in a Liberty League contest (4pm).