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).

Congrat's to Sandy!

TROY, N.Y. – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) student-athlete Sandy Turnbull has been selected to the 2009 Longstreth/NFHCA Division III All-Region Field Hockey North Atlantic Second Team. This is the first All-Region recognition of her career.

A junior forward from Upperville, Va., Turnbull started all 17 games for the Engineers. She led the team in scoring with 26 points on a team-high 12 goals and two assists. Turnbull also led the squad in shots and shots on goal with 52 and 35, respectively.

The former Chatham Hall standout earned All-Liberty League Second Team honors at season’s end and was a Liberty League All-Academic selection.

As a sophomore, Turnbull played in 16 games for Rensselaer, recording five goals and four assists for 14 points. She led the team in assists and game-winning goals (3), while recording 27 shots (21 on goal). In her rookie season, she appeared in 15 games, posting two goals and an assist for five points.

In her career, Turnbull has played in 38 games with 19 goals and seven assists for 45 points. She has posted 93 shots, including 66 on goal. Turnbull is a multiple Dean’s List and Liberty League All-Academic selection in her career.

The Engineers, who are led by head coach Bridget LaNoir, finished with a 4-13 record, including a 1-6 Liberty League mark.

Senior Weekend Part 2

RPI Vs. Castleton Part 2