Winning their past two games, the Engineers clobbered the Utica College Pioneers on Wednesday, September 14 5–1, and narrowly rushed to score the only goal of the game on Sunday 1:28 into overtime to defeat the Montclair State University Red Hawks. They now hold a 4–2 season record with no home losses.
The action in last Wednesday’s non-league away game against Utica began four minutes into play when Josie Sgarlata scored the Pioneers’ sole goal of the afternoon. In response to the goal, Rensselaer went on the offensive, and at 8:36 of play, sophomore Mikaela DiBello aided a shot from junior Megan Jones into the goal.
With 12 minutes gone, DiBello seized an opportunity to travel down the right side and pass to unchecked freshman Nessa Costa, who nested the shot past Utica’s Samantha Whitehouse off a once-blocked rebound. Subsequent goals by freshman Christina Hanos, Jones, and DiBello in the second half secured the Engineers’ strong win.
At 2 pm on Sunday, play began on Harkness Field at the East Campus Athletic Village. Regulation play proved deadlocked at 0–0 as both teams remained strong in both halves in their offensive ends. Though RPI controlled the ball during most of the second half, the Red Hawks fought vigorously in the final minutes of the last half to take victory.
The overtime goal was senior Claire Cecilio’s. Passed to her by DiBello off the right side, she swept it from the circle to the net to snake the win for the Engineers.
RPI returns on Saturday, September 24 to face No. 9 ranked William Smith College at home at 2 pm in their first league match. The following Wednesday, September 28, they will be home against Castleton University at 6 pm.