RPI Vs. Vassar

TROY, N.Y. - Junior Sandy Turnbull scored three goals and three others had a goal apiece to lead the Rensselaer field hockey team to a 6-2 victory over Vassar College in a Liberty League contest at Harkness Field. RPI improves to 1-8 overall and 1-2 in the league, while the Brewers are 2-9 and 0-3.The Engineers broke out to a 2-0 lead less than 15 minutes into the game on a pair of goals off penalty corners. Senior Megan McNamara (Johnstown, NY/Johnstown) earned the first at 9:46 and classmate Joanna Aliprando (Basking Ridge, NJ/Ridge) the second five minutes later.On McNamara's goal, senior Margaret Chowaniec (Burlington, CT/Lewis Mills) collected the ball on the left side and sent it through the middle to McNamara. She scored on a shot from just inside the arc that deflected off a Vassar stick and into the open right corner. Aliprando doubled the lead with the help of an assist by Audrey Newcomb (Southwick, MA/Southwick-Tolland Regional), who took an arching shot from the left side that was saved. Aliprando got her stick on the loose ball and buried it between the goalie's legs.Turnbull (Upperville, PA/Chatham Hall) scored her first of the game on a rebound of a Erika Hawsley (Windsor, ME/Erskine Academy) shot at 18:50.RPI pulled ahead 4-0 on a goal at 54:08 on a goal by Kerri Clark (Saratoga Springs, NY/Saratoga Springs) before Vassar got on the board on a goal by Katy Hwang (Millburn, NJ/Millburn) just 40 seconds later. Hwang was set up by Jessica Lance (Enfield, CT/Enfield), who had two assists in the game.Turnbull scored the next two goals for a 6-1 advantage before senior Jennie McAllister (Bay Shore, NY/Bay Shore) tallied at 62:57. Turnbull, who scored off a long pass and a rebound, now has four goals on the season and leads the team with eight points. McAllister earned her goal on a quick shot into the left corner.Sophomore Sarah Burcher (Lanexa, VA/Maggie L. Walker Governor's School) stopped two shots in the cage for RPI, which held a 23-9 advantage in shots and a 16-6 edge in corners. Junior Rachel Horwitz (Beverly Hills, CA/Harvard-Westlake) made seven saves in the first half for Vassar. Rachel Clarkin-Breslin (Litchfield, CT/Litchfield), a freshman, made two stops in the second half for the Brewers.