The Rensselaer women’s soccer team’s offense kicked into high gear last week, scoring nine goals and only allowing one in two wins. RPI defeated the SUNY New Paltz Hawks 4-0 and their UCAA foe, the Vassar Brewers, 5-1.
On Wednesday the Red Hawks traveled down to play the Hawks. RPI controlled the game from the start, out-shooting New Paltz 23-4.
Junior Adele Godfrey-Certner opened the scoring for RPI with her second goal of the season in the 19th minute off a pass from fellow classmate Anne Drames. Nine minutes later Drames found the back of the net off an assist from junior Betsy Farmer. The half ended with the Red Hawks leading 2-0.
In the second half, Drames again found pay dirt with her fourth goal of the season three minutes into the half. Godfrey-Certner had the assist on the goal.
Senior Danielle Schlegel finished off the scoring with two minutes left off an assist from sophomore Rebecca Primm. RPI goalkeepers Tara Marandino and Abby Eldridge combined for two saves and the win. New Paltz goalie Maggie Fenton had 10 saves in the loss.
On Friday, the Red Hawks returned to Ned Harkness Field to take on the Brewers. RPI got off to a fast start, pushing the ball deep into Vassar territory and peppering the Brewers’ keeper Lisa Strumwasser with 12 shots in the first half. Junior captain Katie Fredlund was the main thorn in the Vassar side, making timely runs and directing play. Fredlund got the Red Hawks on the board first with her first goal of the season 12 minutes into the game off an assist from freshman Katherine Frank.
Vassar came back and two minutes later, after a scuffle in front of the net, Margaret Daniel poked a loose ball past RPI keeper Regina Primm. It was the first goal Vassar has scored all year.
After the Brewers’ goal, the Red Hawks took over and controlled the rest of the half. At the 26:29 mark, Fredlund put RPI up for good with her second goal of the game when Drames put a perfect crossing ball across the middle of the penalty box that a Vassar defender failed to clear. Fredlund ran onto the ball and blistered a shot into the back of the net.
RPI kept the pressure up but was unable to find the net again, ending the half with the Red Hawks leading 2-1.
Five minutes into the second half, Godfrey-Certner gave RPI an insurance goal. Fredlund sent a corner kick into the box that dropped in front of Drames. Drames took the shot and Godfrey-Certner redirected the ball past Strumwasser into the open goal.
Six minutes later Fredlund got the hat trick when she picked up a loose ball on the right side of the field 25 yards from goal and floated a shot over the head of Strumwasser into the left corner of the goal.
Vassar tried to get back into the game but Primm made a couple of big saves to keep the Brewers from scoring again.
Sophomore Mary Bond finished the scoring with her first goal of the season at the 83:25 mark with probably the nicest goal of the game. Bond ran onto a Kim Hein crossing ball and one-timed a shot from 20 yards out just inside the right goal post past Brewers’ back-up keeper Heather Jaffe.
Primm finished with eight saves for the Red Hawks in the win. Strumwasser had five saves and Jaffe zero in the loss.
RPI improved their record to 5-3 overall and 2-1 in the UCAA. The Red Hawks play this weekend on the road against UCAA and Capital District foes Skidmore and Union. Friday RPI travels to Saratoga to take on the Lady Thoroughbreds at 7 pm. On Saturday, the Red Hawks travel to Schenectady to take on the Dutchwomen. Game time is 4 pm.
