STUDENT-ATHLETES NAMED TO LIBERTY LEAGUE FALL ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM

TROY, N.Y. – The 2010 Liberty League Fall All-Academic Team has been announced
and 68 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) student-athletes were honored. Studentathletes
must have at least sophomore athletic and academic standing with a minimum
grade point average of 3.20 to be selected. The fall sports include men’s and women’s
cross country, field hockey, football, men’s golf and men’s and women’s soccer.
Below are Rensselaer’s Liberty League All-Academic student-athletes,

FIELD HOCKEY
Julie Campbell Jr. Pittsburgh, PA Biomedical Engineering
Jessica Corrigan Sr. S. Burlington, VT Business and Management
Holly Dupuis So. Brookfield, MA Biomedical Engineering
Briana Earle Jr. Baldwinsville, NY Civil Engineering
Sage Foley Sr. Sturbridge, MA Biology
Erika Hawksley Jr. Windsor, ME Civil Engineering
Alex Lamparski Gr. Malvern, PA Mechanical Engineering
Audrey Newcomb Sr. Southwick, MA Electric Power Engineering
Carlie Newcomb So. Southwick, MA Biomedical Engineering
Alissa Peterson So. Gaithersburg, MD Mechanical Engineering
Katie Shea So. Chevy Chase, MD Biomedical Engineering
Sandy Turnbull Sr. Upperville, VA Materials Engineering

RPI Vs. Castleton State

TROY, N.Y. – Freshman Rachel Preusser tallied a goal in each half to lead the Castleton State College field hockey team to a 3-1 win over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) on Wednesday at Harkness Field. The Spartans are now 11-6 overall, while the Engineers drop to 4-12 on the season.

The visiting Spartans grabbed a 1-0 lead early in the contest as Preusser (Craryville, NY/Taconic Hills) scored in the ninth minute. Taking a feed from senior Courtney Nolan (Spring Lake Heights, NJ/Manasquan), Preusser carried the ball into the circle, ducking around one defender for a point-blank shot at RPI keeper Briana Earle (Baldwinsville, NY/C.W. Baker).

Rensselaer, which held a 10-5 advantage in shots for the first half, had its chances to even things up in the frame, but could not get one past senior goalie Siobhan Whittemore (Springfield,VT/Springfield), who made five stops in the opening half.

In the second half, RPI finally got on the board as freshman Kierstan Ryan (Levittown, PA/Harry S. Truman) tallied in the 40th minute. Senior Jessica Corrigan (South Burlington, VT/South Burlington) earned the assist after she collected the ball from junior Erika Hawksley (Windsor, ME/Erskine Academy) at the top of the circle, drawing the goalie out. She then passed the ball to Ryan at the right corner, who tapped it into the open net.

Preusser then added her second of the game in the 60th minute after she fired the ball into play off her own corner. Senior Sarah Flore (Springfield, VT/Springfield) settled it at the top of the circle before passing it in to junior Stephanie Paproski (Newtown, CT/Newtown), who was just five yards out. Finding Preusser at the corner of the box, she sent it up to her for the goal past Earle.

Spartans pushed the lead to two (3-1) less than a minute later as Paproski found the rebound of a shot by Flore and fired it into the box in the 61st minute. The Engineers tried to get one back late in the game, but Whittemore and the Castleton State defense held strong with a number of blocked shots.

In goal, Whittemore stopped six shots to pick up the victory, while Earle made 13 saves in the loss for the Engineers, including 10 in the second half.

Rensselaer wraps up its regular season on Saturday in a 6pm match at Stevens Institute of Technology. Castleton State concluded its regular season schedule with tonight’s match, but will return to action on Saturday hosting Thomas in the NAC Quarterfinals (4:30pm).

RPI Vs. Rochester

TROY, N.Y. – Trailing by two goals 10 minutes into the second half, the University of Rochester scored four times in a span of 5:01 and the Yellowjackets held on to defeat Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), 4-2, in a Liberty League field hockey game at Harkness Field. Rochester improves to 7-9 overall and 3-4 in the Liberty League, while the Engineers fall to 4-11 and 2-5.

Sophomore Shelby Hall (Hamburg, NY/Hamburg) had two goals and an assist to lead the Yellowjackets in their come-from-behind victory. Junior Anna Dobrzynski (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Sutherland) opened the scoring with an unassisted goal at 46:00 and classmate Anisha Gundewar (Marlborough, MA/Marlborough) tallied just 2:49 later. Hall then notched her two goals at 49:54 and 51:08 for the final margin.

RPI broke on top when graduate student Alex Lamparski (Malvern, PA/Country Day School of the Sacred Heart) scored off a feed from senior Sandy Turnbull (Upperville, VA/Chatham Hall) at 9:48. Turnbull carried the ball up the field and found Lamparski, who quickly turned and scored after collecting the pass. The Engineers doubled their lead at 15:47 when sophomore Alissa Peterson (Gaithersburg, MD/Quince Orchard) scored on a rebound of her own shot.

The first half ended with RPI holding a 16-14 advantage in shots, including a 12-9 edge in shots on goal.

Rochester pulled to within one when Dobrzynski, the team’s leading scorer, knocked in a loose ball from close range. The goal was her 13th of the season. Gundewar then scored off a rebound of a Hall shot to tie the score. Hall’s first goal of the game was also after sustained pressure by Rochester, this time with Allison Beardsley (Weedsport, NY/Weedsport) taking the initial shot. Hall then scored on a rush for the 2-goal margin.

Freshman Madison Wagner (Cheswick, PA/Fox Chapel) earned the win in goal by making 14 saves, including 10 in the first half. Junior Briana Earle (Baldwinsville, NY/C.W. Baker) also played well, stopping 16 shots on the other end.

Rensselaer plays its final home game of the season on Wednesday night when it hosts Castleton State at 7pm. Rochester is also in action on Wednesday at 7pm when it hosts Houghton.

RPI Vs. William Smith

TROY, N.Y. – After battling through two overtimes, graduate student Alex Lamparski netted the game-winning penalty stroke to give the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) field hockey team a 2-1 win over #19 William Smith College in Liberty League action on Saturday. With the victory, the Engineers move to 4-10 overall and 2-4 in conference play. The Herons slip to 10-6 and 3-3 in the Liberty League.

Lamparski’s (Malvern, PA/Country Day School of the Sacred Heart) goal sealed the win for RPI, which was given the opportunity to claim victory by a fantastic save from Briana Earle (Baldwinsville, NY/C.W. Baker). Posting a game-total of 13 stops, Earle made a diving save on junior Kiersten Hamilton’s (Harpursville, NY/Harpursville) penalty stroke to keep the Engineers in contention.

It was a solid defensive effort from the start of the game as both goaltenders made spectacular plays throughout the contest. Herons netminder Taryn Little (Wells, VT/Granville) stopped a game total of nine shots, including four in the first half to keep RPI off the board. Despite several chances by both teams at each end, it was William Smith who struck first as time expired in the first half.

The Herons took a penalty corner with just seconds left on the clock. An RPI infraction led to another corner as time expired sending Hamilton to the line to shoot it in. She sent the ball sailing out to the top of the circle and freshman Melanie O’Connor (Stockholm, NJ/Pope John XXIII) corralled it and took two steps back in. Her shot sailed toward the goal and was re-directed at the last minute by Hamilton for the 1-0 advantage.

Rensselaer held tough in the second half, their persistence in the Herons’ zone finally paying off in the 57th minute as sophomore Alissa Peterson (Gaithersburg, MD/Quince Orchard) scored her second of the season. Senior Sandy Turnbull (Upperville, MD/Chatham Hall) took a penalty corner, her shot going out to Peterson at the left side of the top of the circle. She responded with a low shot from just inside the circle, which beat Little stick side to make it a 1-all game.

Neither team was able to capitalize late in the half despite several good chances on each side. Both goaltenders held strong as they headed into the first overtime. Turnbull had back-to-back chances in the first extra session, but was denied by a fantastic kick save from Little.

In the second overtime, both teams came out firing as freshman Taylor Cappello (Windsor, NY/Windsor) sent a strong shot at Earle from point-blank range which was kicked away by Earle in time.

Rensselaer returns to action on Sunday against the University of Rochester. Game time is set for 1pm and the Engineers will be honoring their five seniors in a pre-game ceremony. The Herons head to Poughkeepsie to take on Vassar in a 1pm contest.

RPI Vs. Utica

UTICA, N.Y. - The Utica College women’s field hockey team beat visiting RPI, 3-2, in a non-conference game Friday night at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium. The Pioneers improve to 6-7 overall on the season, while the Engineers fall to 3-10. Senior Kim Martin had the unassisted, game-winning goal for UC at 59:18.

Utica drew first blood a little over 18 minutes into the game, when from Hayley Coon found the back off the net off a pass from by Avion Ashton at 18:14. Just under ten minutes later, RPI would answer, tying the game off an unassisted goal from Jessica Corrigan at 27:22 in the first half.

However, UC continued their control on offense and at 34:33, Mallory Mariano would tally her fourth goal of the season off a rebound to give the Pioneers a 2-1 lead at the break.

At the start off the second half, Rensselaer would tie the game at 2-2, after Sandy Turnbull fired a bullet from 20 yards out and recorded her team-leading seventh goal of the season.

But Utica would continue their stride and just under ten minutes later, Kim Martin would tally her second goal of the year, finding the lower left corner, at 59:18, to give the Pioneers the lead, 3-2, as they went on to victory.

RPI Vs. Skidmore

TROY, N.Y. - Kelly Blackhurst had a hat trick and Christine Kemp had two goals and an assist to lead the Skidmore College field hockey team to a 7-2 win over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). Rensselaer, which got both goals from senior Sandy Turnbull, falls to 3-9 overall and 1-4 in the Liberty League. The ninth-ranked Thoroughbreds are now 10-1, including nine straight wins, and 5-0.

Skidmore struck first as Blackhurst (North River, NY/Johnsburg), a freshman, scored just 2:30 into the game. Junior Annie Rosencrans (Riverside, CT/Greenwich) earned the assist after she took at shot that banked off the right corner of the cage. Blackhurst buried the rebound past Engineers goalkeeper Briana Earle (Baldwinsville, NY/C.W. Baker).

Rensselaer wasted little time in making it a 1-1 game as Turnbull (Upperville, VA/Chatham Hall) took a pass from sophomore Alissa Peterson (Gaithersburg, MD/Quince Orchard) while standing near the goal line to the goaltender’s left and shot the ball past senior keeper Liz Catinella (Sudbury, MA/Lincoln Sudbury). The goal came off a penalty corner.

Turnbull put the Engineers ahead with her team-leading seventh goal of the year when she carried the ball into the circle and fired a long shot to the far side at the 11:54 mark. Sage Foley (Sturbridge, MA/Tantasqua Regional), who chipped the ball to Turnbull, was credited with the assist. Skidmore needed just 28 seconds to tie the game as senior Brittany O’Brien (Ridgefield, CT/Ridgefield) carried the ball down the right side and crossed it to the middle, where Kemp (Putnam Valley, NY/Putnam Valley) was waiting to jam it over the goal line.

Kemp added her second of the game – her 13th of the season – off a turnover in the circle at 25:24 and Blackhurst made it 4-2 when she scored with just 14 seconds left in the first half.

In the second half, Blackhurst tallied on a rebound of a pair of O’Brien shots at 41:58 for a three-goal margin. Senior Katie Potter (Rumson, NJ/Rumson Fair-Haven) then scored on a penalty stroke at 54:39 and junior Lauren Tobias (New City, NY/Clarkstown South) tapped in a goal-mouth pass from Kemp just over five minutes later (59:50).

Catinella stopped three shots in 57:32 for Skidmore, which held a 38-11 edge in shots, including 26-5 on goal. Earle made 18 saves for the Engineers.

Rensselaer is back on the field next Friday, traveling to Utica for a 7pm match against the Pioneers. Skidmore is also in action on Friday, hosting Babson in Saratoga Springs at 3:30pm.

RPI Vs. Union

TROY, N.Y. – Senior Tyler Willey’s goal in the 68th minute gave Union College a one-goal advantage and the Dutchwomen held on for a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Liberty League field hockey action at Harkness Field. With the victory, Union evens its record at 5-5 and is now 2-2 in conference play. The Engineers are now 3-8 on the season and 1-3 in the Liberty League.

With RPI holding a 1-0 lead in the second half after a goal by senior Alex Lamparski (Malvern, PA/Country Day School of the Sacred Heart), Union mounted a comeback as sophomore Lauren Winchell (Glens Falls, NY/Glens Falls) sent the ball out of the circle on a penalty corner. The ball carried out to senior Alex King (Chester Springs, PA/The Shipley School), who settled it and sent it back in where Winchell curved around RPI netminder Briana Earle (Baldwinsville, NY/C.W. Baker) for the shot at the open goal in the 68th minute.

Willey (Stockton, NJ/The Hun School of Princeton) then gave the visitors the 2-1 advantage less than three minutes later after collecting a pass from senior Shannon Brady (Bernardston, MA/Greenfield) in front. Through a scramble, Willey managed to get her stick down and send it into the left corner of the box past Earle for the go-ahead goal.

Union, which held a 16-5 advantage in shots for the second half, played a staunch defense in the waning minutes and effectively shut down the Engineers opportunities.

Neither team found the back of the net in the opening stanza, but Rensselaer broke onto the scoreboard first in the second half. Sophomore Holly Dupuis (Brookfield, MA/Worcester Academy) set up the Engineers’ goal, sending in a long shot from outside the circle, which was deflected in front by Lamparski in the 46th minute.

Both goaltenders had fantastic outings at either end as Union netminder Sarah Rios (Queensbury, NY/Glens Falls) stopped seven shots for the victory, including five stops in the first half. For RPI, Earle finished with 10 saves, making six stops in the second half of the contest.

Union senior Kelsey Powers (Naples, ME/Lake Region) led all players in shots for the game, notching 11 total, including five on goal, while Rensselaer senior Sandy Turnbull (Upperville, VA/Chatham Hall) had a team-best five shots, including three that were turned aside by Rios.

Both teams are back in action on Saturday as the Engineers welcome #9 Skidmore to Harkness Field. Union heads to Poughkeepsie to face Vassar. Both contests begin at 2pm.

RPI Vs. Rowan

Montclair, NJ – Sophomore forward Marisa Schoepflin (Sewell, NJ / Washington Township) poked in a rebound with 8:22 remaining which turned out to be the difference as Rowan University edged Rensselaer, 3-2 in an NCAA Division III field hockey matchup at Montclair State University’s Sprague Field on Saturday evening.

Juniors Julie Cairone (Medford, NJ / Shawnee) and Ashley Adams (Erial, NJ / Timber Cree Regional) each scored goals as the Profs improved to 7-4 on the season with their fourth win in the last five contests.

Freshman Kiersten Ryan (Levittown, PA / Harry S. Truman) and sophomore Alissa Peterson (Gaithersburg, MD / Quince Orchard) each scored for the Engineers, who fell to 3-7 on the year.

Ryan gave RPI a 1-0 lead 11:56 into the first half as she netted her first goal of the season. Sandy Turnbull (Upperville, VA / Chatham Hall) sent a looping pass from 45 yards out that got through several defenders. Ryan tracked the ball down and managed to flip a shot ahead of goalkeeper Lisa Apt (Mays Landing, NJ / Oakcrest) for the score.

Rowan would answer right back as Cairone redirected a shot from the top of the circle by Lauren Conner (Egg Harbor Township, NJ / Egg Harbor Township) past Briana Earle (Baldwinsville, NY / C.W. Baker) tying the game at 1-1. It was Cairone’s fifth goal.

The Profs would take the lead with 12:40 to go in the first half on the sixth goal of the year by Adams, who carried the ball through from 25 yards out on the left side to within five yards before depositing the ball into the left corner.

Rowan led 2-1 at the break.

In the second half, RPI managed to tie the game 8:50 into the half. Off a penalty corner, the ball came out of the circle. Peterson was able to track the ball down and moved back inside before unleashing a blistering shot to the far post for the goal as the Engineers deadlocked the game at 2-2.

Schoepflin put Rowan ahead for good at 61:38. Rachael Dix (Egg Harbor Township, NJ / Egg Harbor Township) fired a shot from the left side off a penalty corner. Earle would make the save however the ball trickled out toward the right post to Schoepflin, who banged in the rebound for her second goal.

RPI would get two solid chances to tie the game in the closing seconds. A tipped pass got through inside the circle to Jessica Corrigan (South Burlington, VT / Northfield Mount Hermon). Corrigan put a shot on goal that was stopped by Rowan’s Jen Goldberg (Clark, NJ / Arthur L. Johnson). Hannah Kaplan (Danbury, CT / Danbury) got the rebound but Goldberg would come with another save to end the threat.

Earle made six saves for RPI while Apt had one in 47:55 of action. Goldberg had the two stops in the final 22:05.

Rowan outshot RPI 15-6 and had an 8-5 edge in penalty corners.

RPI Vs. Vassar

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY — Rensselaer senior forward Sandy Turnbull broke a 1-1 tie with twelve minutes remaining and junior goalie Briana Earle saved a penalty shot in the final two minutes to lead the Engineers over the Vassar College field hockey team, 2-1, snapping a five game losing streak in a tightly contested Liberty League game Wednesday afternoon at Weinberg Field.

The Brewers fall to 2-7, 0-3 on the season and play the second of an eight game home stand in a non-league match against Morrisville State College on Saturday, October 2 at 1 p.m. The Engineers improve to 3-6 (1-2) and will next travel to Rowan University for a non-leauge meeting October 2 at 6 p.m.

RPI scored the game winning goal with 12:31 remaining in the game. Turnbull deflected a bouncing shot by sophomore midfielder Holly Dupuis from the right side of the circle into the open side of the net behind Vassar senior goalkeeper Rachel Horwitz. It was Turnbull’s team-leading fifth goal of the season..

Vassar got its last and best chance to tie the contest with just under two minutes remaining when junior midfielder Elizabeth Feltch was awarded a penalty shot after she was shoved from behind during a clear path assault on goal. Feltch ripped the ball high and towards the left side of the goal, but Earle made a diving hand save, the last and most important of her 11 saves in the game.

The Engineers started the scoring at 41:26 when senior forward Jessica Corrigan deflected a blast from the top of the circle from junior midfielder Erika Hawksley, which slide past Horwitz. The senior tender had a strong game overall, making nine saves.

The Brewers tied the game 1-1 at 49:50 in the second half when senior midfielder Jessica Lance carried the ball down field and hammered in an unassisted shot from the top of the circle for her first goal of the season.

The three second half goals all followed a hard fought and scoreless first half, with both sides nearly even in time of ball possession. Turnbull’s goal and Earle’s save proved the difference for the Engineers, despite being outshot 15-13 by the Brewers. Vassar held a 14-6 advantage in penalty corners, but could not convert on any.

RPI Vs. Hamilton

CLINTON, N.Y. - Senior Colleen Callaghan scored two goals in the second half to help Hamilton College pull away to a 4-1 win against Rensselaer in a Liberty League field hockey game at Campus Road Athletic Field. The Continentals improve to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the Liberty League, while the Engineers fall to 2-6 (0-2 Liberty).

Rensselaer grabbed a 1-0 lead 6 minutes, 34 seconds into the first half when senior Sandy Turnbull scored her fourth goal this year. Hamilton defender Meghan Carter was injured on the play and did not return.

The Continentals responded with 20:17 left in the half. Senior Briana Earle stopped a shot, but the ball squirted free to Mary Lancaster, who poked it into the cage for her first goal this year. Nikki Haskins gave Hamilton the lead for good with 16:00 left before the break. Haskins carried the ball into the right side of the arc and ripped a shot just after she crossed the line that beat Earle to the left side of the cage. The Continentals led 2-1 at the half.

Callaghan got warmed up in the second half. She converted a penalty shot with 12:41 left and clinched the victory on an unassisted goal with 5:18 remaining. She was credited with 11 shots.

Molly Brooks made five saves for Hamilton, and Earle turned aside seven shots for the Engineers. The Continentals held a 22-16 advantage in shots, and Rensselaer held a 7-5 edge in penalty corners. The Engineers lost their fifth straight game. Hamilton leads the all-time series 13-10 and has won three in a row against Rensselaer.

The Continentals host Hartwick College for a non-league game on September 28. The Engineers play league rival Vassar College on the road on September 29.

RPI Vs. St Lawrence

CANTON, N.Y. - The St. Lawrence field hockey team got two goals from senior Brooke Maloney in defeating Rensselaer, 3-1, in the Liberty League opener. The win moves St. Lawrence to 3-3 (1-0 Liberty League) on the season, while Rensselaer falls to 2-5 (0-1 Liberty).

First-year student Nicole Matos made eight saves to pick up her first collegiate victory.

Though Maloney handled the majority of the scoring for the Saints, it was Matos and senior Caitlin Estes who made the difference on defense. Estes, who typically plays in the midfield, played in the back on Friday and did a stand-out job keeping Rensselaer’s offense in check.

Rensselaer came out of the game on the attack and needed only 3:51 to take a 1-0 lead in the contest. The Engineers, who pinned St. Lawrence in their own end to start the game, scored off of a penalty corner when Alissa Peterson found Sandy Turnbull in front of Matos. Turnbull quickly fired a shot past the keeper for her third goal of the season a 1-0 advantage.

Maloney would answer for the Scarlet and Brown only 6:34 later with her second goal of the season to knot the score at 1-1. The Greenwich, CT native made a nice move around a defender into the scoring circle and blasted a rocket past Rensselaer netminder Briana Earle to cap the first half scoring.

The two Liberty League foes went nearly 40:00 minutes before senior Michelle Laframboise broke the tie and gave the Saints a 2-1 lead at 50:22. Maloney got the play started with a great pass from outside the scoring circle to the far post, where Laframboise

RPI Vs. Morrisville, NY

MORRISVILLE, N.Y. - Senior Lauren Bordonaro (N. Tonawanda, NY/Starpoint) found the back of the net in the 74th minute to lift Morrisville State to a 2-1 win over visiting Rensselaer in overtime. With the win, the Mustangs move to 3-3 on the season, while the Engineers drop to 2-4 overall.

After a scoreless opening half of action, Rensselaer got on the scoreboard as senior Sandy Turnbull (Upperville, VA/Chatham Hall) pushed one into the corner in the 54th minute. The Engineers continued to maintain the lead late into the second half, but the homestanding Mustangs pulled things even.

Sophomore Rebecca Meyer (Morrisville, NY/Morrisville-Eaton) collected a pass from Bordonaro and slid it home past RPI goalie Briana Earle (Baldwinsville, NY/C.W. Baker) in the 68th minute of the contest for a 1-1 game.

Neither team was able to get the go-ahead goal in the final minutes of regulation, but Bordonaro gave the home team the victory in overtime. Off a fast break pass from senior Molly Luzak (Burt, NY/Newfane), Bordonaro found the corner of the box for the victory.

In goal, sophomore Kelsey Pellegrino (Cicero, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) stopped 11 shots for the win, while Earle made 10 stops for RPI.

Rensselaer returns to action this weekend, opening Liberty League play on the road at St. Lawrence and Hamilton on Friday (4pm) and Saturday (2pm)

RPI Vs. Oneonta

ONEONTA, N.Y. - Ainsley Stoll recorded a hat trick, including the game-winning goal with under nine minutes remaining, to lead Oneonta State to a 3-2 win over Rensselaer in a non-league field hockey game. RPI got goals from Julia Wright and Jessica Corrigan and four saves from Briana Earle. The Engineers are now 2-3, while the Red Dragons improve to 4-1.

Rensselaer was first to get on the board in the 16th minute when Wright found a loose ball in the box and tapped it into the back left corner of the cage.

It didn’t take long for the Red Dragons to strike back. Stoll recorded her first goal on the day by dribbling past the defense and pushing the ball past Earle to tie the game at one a piece going into the half.

Stoll continued her dominance scoring again in the 38th minute of play with a shot from the top of the circle.

Shortly after Rensselaer tied it back up at 2-2 with a redirect shot and goal for Corrigan.

After a shot hitting the post, Stoll kept her composure to record the hat trick, scoring her third goal in the 61st minute to put the Red Dragons ahead 3-2. Rensselaer had a shot in the final seconds of play that went wide but set up one last shot for the Engineers off of a penalty corner. The ball came into the box but only bounced around before the Oneonta defense knocked away to end the game.

RPI Vs Cortland

TROY, N.Y. – The SUNY Cortland field hockey team carried a one-goal lead into the second half and added two unanswered in the final 35 minutes to defeat Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), 3-0, on Saturday at Harkness Field. The Red Dragons, who have yet to allow a goal this season, are now 3-0, while the Engineers drop to 2-2 overall.

Freshman Erin Smith (Greene, NY/Greene) got the visitors on the board in the ninth minute of the game after she found a loose ball near the right corner and pushed it in. RPI goalie Briana Earle (Baldwinsville, NY/C.W. Baker) made the initial stop from her knees, but was unable to recover as Smith found the wide open net.

Despite a number of solid chances, including a point-blank shot by senior Jessica Corrigan (South Burlington, VT/Northfield Mt. Hermon) just outside the 8-meter mark, Rensselaer was unable to get one past senior keeper Ashley Hughes (Selden, NY/Comsewogue), who made two stops in the opening half.

Both teams came out with solid pressure after the intermission, battling back and forth with the ball as Earle and Hughes made several key stops. RPI senior Sandy Turnbull (Upperville, VA/Chatham Hall) nearly got the Engineers on the board after she tore up the middle and into the offensive zone, but her shot was deflected by at Red Dragons defender.

Turnbull once again had a great shot turned aside as Hughes came forward at the corner of the box and kicked the shot away and back into possession for the visitors.

Just into the 62nd minute, Smith once again came up big for SUNY Cortland, finding the loose ball in a skirmish of players in front and sliding it around Earle.

The Red Dragons continued to pressure minutes later and it paid off in the 68th minute as senior Brenda Semit (Holland Patent, NY/Holland Patent) ripped a shot from just inside the middle of the arc. The ball sailed toward the net through traffic past Earle, who was screened on the play.

Hughes continued her scoreless streak, making six stops for her third victory of the year. Earle made 11 saves in the RPI net, including seven in the first half of action to fall to 2-2 overall.

The Engineers return to action Wednesday, traveling to SUNY Oneonta for a 4pm match. SUNY Cortland is back on the field on Tuesday, hosting Hamilton at 4pm.

RPI VS Hartwick

ONEONTA, N.Y. - Senior Sandy Turnbull (Upperville, VA/Chatham Hall) scored just 4:04 into overtime to lift Rensselaer to a 2-1 overtime victory at Hartwick on Wednesday evening. The Engineers, who rallied from a goal down in the second half, improve to 2-1 overall. The Hawks are now 1-2 on the young season.

Facing a 1-0 deficit after the first 35 minutes of action, the Engineers pulled things even in the 55th minute as sophomore Holly Dupuis (Brookfield, MA / Worcester Academy) converted for an unassisted tally. Despite an 18-7 advantage in shots on goal for regulation and a late surge by RPI, which included back-to-back corner shots in the final minute by Turnbull, the Engineers couldn't convert.

In the overtime session, Rensselaer came out firing, sending two shots on net withing the first two minutes. Just into the 75th minute, Turnbull pushed a shot past the reach of Hawks goalie Mackenzie Chapman for the win.

In goal, junior Briana Earle (Baldwinsville, NY/C.W. Baker) stopped five shots to move to 2-1 on the season. Chapman had 16 saves for Hartwick and is now 1-2.

Rensselaer returns to action on Saturday when it welcomes #5 SUNY Cortland for its season home opener at Harkness Field. Action begins at 12pm and will feature live stats at http://sidearmstats.com/rpi/fhockey/. The game will also feature a live pay-per-view webcast via B2 Networks at http://www.b2tv.com/upcoming_events.asp.

League Tabs Two For Weekly Honors

TROY, N.Y. – The Liberty League has announced its weekly Performers of the Week in field hockey and women’s soccer and two Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) student-athletes have been selected. Briana Earle was named the Defensive Performer of the Week in field hockey, while Sara Rothschild earned Rookie of the Week in women’s soccer.

Earle, a junior goalie out of Baldwinsville, N.Y., earned her award after helped RPI go 1-1 in its opening week, stopping 24 shots in 170:00 minutes. She made 11 saves in a 2-1 penalty stroke victory at William Paterson and then stopped 13 shots in a narrow 3-2 loss to Montclair State. For the weekend, she had a 1.65 goals against average and a .857 save percentage.

Last season, the former C. W. Baker High School standout played in 11 games, including nine as a starter. She posted a 1-9 record, carrying a 3.00 goals against average with 74 saves. This is the second Defensive Performer of the Week in Earle’s career, having garnered the honor in 2008. That season, she started 13 games with a 7-6 overall record and was also a two-time Rookie of the Week selection.

A freshman forward out of Manlius, N.Y., Rothschild had a hand in all three of RPI's goals over two games, as the women’s soccer team went 1-1. She also had five shots, three of which went on goal. In a 2-0 victory at Castleton State, she scored a goal and assisted on another. She then picked up a helper on RPI's lone goal in a 3-1 loss to Wellesley.

Rothschild was a three-year member of the soccer team at Fayetteville-Manlius High School, garnering All-League First Team as a senior. She led the team in assists during her final season and was the squad’s scoring leader as a junior. Rothschild, who was a scholar-athlete, led her team to a League Championship title in 2008 and the Section Finals in 2009.

The field hockey team is back in action on Wednesday at Hartwick for a 7pm match. Live stats will be available at http://livestats.hartwick.edu/Soccer/WFH1011/xlive.htm. RPI will then welcome #5 SUNY Cortland on Saturday at Harkness Field (12pm). Live stats for Saturday’s game can be found at http://sidearmstats.com/rpi/fhockey/.

The women’s soccer team is back on the pitch this weekend, when they head to Schenectady to compete in the Dutchwomen Classic. RPI faces Westfield State on Saturday and New Paltz on Sunday. Both games begin at 1pm. Live stats for the weekend will be available at http://www.sidearmstats.com/union/wsoc/.

RPI Vs. Montclair State 2010

Montclair, N.J. – Seniors Diana Colombo and Melissa Flaherty each scored goals early in the first and second half, respectively as the Montclair St. field hockey team jumped out to a three-goal lead before holding off Rensselaer for a 3-2 victory at Sprague Field. With the win, the Red Hawks improve to 2-1 on the year, while the Engineers move to 1-1.

Sophomore goalkeeper Megan Bosland (Boonton, NJ/Lincoln Park) stopped seven shots, including a penalty stroke in the first half as the Red Hawks won their second straight moving to 2-1 on the year.

Seniors Jessica Corrigan (South Burlington, VT/Northfield Mount Hermon) and Alex Lamparski (Malvern, PA / Country Day School of the Sacred Heart) had a goal apiece for the Engineers, who fell to 1-1 on their weekend trip to New Jersey. RPI knocked off William Paterson 2-1 in penalty strokes on Saturday.

The Red Hawks started off fast putting the first goal on the board 46 seconds into the contest. Taking possession and moving down toward the circle, Colombo intercepted a clearing pass five yards in front of the cage. She then fired a shot over the right shoulder of goalkeeper Briana Earle (Baldwinsville, NY/C.W. Baker) into the left corner of the game giving MSU a 1-0 advantage.

Rensselaer would get a golden opportunity tie the game just over eight minutes in. The Engineers put four shots on goal during a flurry, including one by Holly Dupuis (Brookfield, MA //Worcester Academy) that was stopped by Bosland and two by Corrigan, whose first attempt was batted away by defender Rebekah Keller (Berlin, NJ/Eastern) and the second hitting the post. MSU would then be whistled for a foul giving RPI a penalty stroke. Lamparski stepped to the line and fire a shot that was batted away by Bosland keeping the margin at 1-0 and eventually looming large in the end result.

Using the momentum, Montclair came right back down the field and extended the lead at the 9:27 mark. Off a penalty corner, Jessica Murphy (West Long Branch, NJ/Shore Regional) fired a shot that was stopped by Earle. However, the ball bounced back out in front to Murphy who banged in the rebound for her first of the season as Montclair took a 2-0 lead at halftime.

Flaherty put the Red Hawks ahead 3-0 just 1:08 into the second half. Murphy started the play with a shot from the top left side of the circle. Freshman Allison Jullions (Hainesport, NJ/Holy Cross) deflected the ball over to the right side where Flaherty was able to knock in the shot for her second tally of the young season.

RPI did not away quietly however as the Engineers got on the board at 48:46 on a goal by Lamparski off a penalty corner. Sandy Turnbull (Upperville, VA/Chatham Hall) inserted the ball to Alissa Peterson (Gaithersburg, MD/ Quince Orchard) who then slid the ball over to Lamparski. Lamparski then flipped the ball past Bosland for a 3-1 MSU lead.

Earle would make three saves to keep RPI close and the Engineers would eventually take advantage as Corrigan scored with 5:51 left bringing Rensselaer within a goal. But that would be as close as it would get as Montclair was able to keep the ball in the attack end the majority of the final time to preserve the win.

Earle finished with 13 saves for RPI, which also got a defensive save from Lamparski in the game.

Montclair outshots the Engineers 22-13 and held a 7-6 edge in penalty corners.

Both teams are back out on the road for their next contests. Montclair St. is off until Saturday, September 11 when they head to Allentown, PA to face Muhlenberg College (1pm). RPI plays on Wednesday against Hartwick College at (7pm).

Source: http://www.rpiathletics.com/news/2010/9/5/FHOCK_0905104249.aspx

RPI Vs. William Patterson 2010

WAYNE, N.J. – Rensselaer used a 2-1 advantage during the penalty-stroke shootout to open its field hockey season with a 2-1 victory at William Paterson on Saturday. The Engineers are now 1-0 on the young season, while the Pioneers fall to 1-1.

After Alissa Peterson (Gaithersburg, Md./Quince Orchard) and Melissa Szeliga (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) were unsuccessful during the first round of the shootout, Erika Hawksley (Windsor, Maine/Erskine Academy) drilled her shot to the upper left to give RPI a 1-0 edge.

Freshman Jaclyn Bertos (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Knolls) followed by sending her attempt off the stick of Engineer goalie Briana Earle (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker) and into the back of the cage to even the series.

Junior Meghan Trivett (Highlands, N.J./Middletown North) saved a Holly Dupuis (Brookfield, Mass./Worcester Academy) shot up the middle, but Earle followed with the same effort against a Meghan Bardeer (Westampton, N.J./Rancocas Valley Regional) attempt.

Freshman Sarah Krolus (Westminster, Md./Garrison Forest School) beat Trivett inside the right post for a 2-1 Engineer lead, followed by a miss wide left by Erin Garces (Cream Ridge, N.J./New Egypt). Alex Lamparski (Malvern, Pa./Country Day School of the Sacred Heart) saw her attempt saved by Trivett to the right, leaving the door open for the Pioneers to tie the series during the final round, but freshman Jacqui Giammetta (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) was denied by Earle to the lower-left side of the cage.

Freshman Kelsey Porter (Quechee, Vt./Hartford) broke through for her first career goal when she finished a Sandy Turnbull (Upperville, Va./Chatham Hall) pass at the right post in the 11th minute. That was the best opportunity of the opening period as RPI owned a 1-0 lead at halftime.

William Paterson was able to capitalize off a penalty corner with 9:16 to play when the ball was played out long to Szeliga, who sent it back into the circle to senior Amanda Sheehan (Boonton, N.J./Boonton). Sheehan’s shot found the inside-right edge of the cage, evening the contest at 1-1.

Each side had a quality chance during the first overtime session. The first was by the Pioneers on a Sheehan breakaway up the center of the field, but Earle stepped up and stonewalled the William Paterson senior before she get a full-fledged shot off. The other was a Dupuis shot that Trivett stopped, but the official indicated a penalty stroke would be awarded as a result of the play. Dupuis sent the stroke up and to the left, but Trivett knocked it away at the post with 30.4 seconds remaining in the extra session.

The best opportunity of the second overtime was on a WP corner, but Earle turned away three shots within a 10-second span to keep it a 1-1 contest.

Earle had 11 saves for RPI and Trivett had 10 for the Pioneers.
Source http://www.rpiathletics.com/news/2010/9/4/FHOCK_0904102253.aspx

Field Hockey Among the Nation's Smartest

TROY, N.Y. - The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) field hockey team has been recognized by the 2009 Gladiator by SGI/National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) as one of the top academic teams in Division III. The Engineers, who have a team grade point average of 3.40, saw 14 student-athletes named to the NFHCA National Academic Squad.

One of 95 schools to be recognized, Rensselaer has consistently been one of the top squads over the last six seasons, including being named the nation’s top academic squad in both 2004 and 2005. The Engineers ranked second in 2008.

Rensselaer’s individuals named are Joanna Aliprando (Basking Ridge, NJ/Ridge), Sarah Burcher (Lanexa, VA/Maggie L. Walker Governor's School), Julie Campbell (Pittsburgh, PA/Fox Chapel Area), Margaret Chowaniec (Burlington, CT/Lewis Mills), Morgan Danner (McLean, VA/Langley), Holly Dupuis (Brookfield, MA/Worcester Academy), Briana Earle (Baldwinsville, NY/C.W. Baker), Shaina Feldman (Phoenixville, PA/Phoenixville Area), Sage Foley (Sturbridge, MA/Tantasqua Regional), Erika Hawksley (Windsor, ME/Erskine Academy), Molly Johnston (Ivoryton, CT/Valley Regional), Megan McNamara (Johnstown, NY/Johnstown), Audrey Newcomb (Southwick, MA/Southwick-Tolland Regional) and Alissa Peterson (Gaithersburg, MD/Quince Orchard).

Aliprando, Chowaniec and Feldman are making their fourth straight appearance on the National Academic Squad.

Twenty of Rensselaer’s 24 members qualified for the Dean’s List last semester, including 13 who earned at least a 3.50 GPA and four with a perfect 4.0.

This year’s NFHCA Division III top five teams are Springfield College (3.52), Richard Stockton College (3.47), Swarthmore College (3.47), Washington & Lee University (3.47) and Goucher College (3.46).