The field hockey team got its first UCAA victory against the Vassar Brewers, with a score of 4-1 last Wednesday. With the win, the Red Hawks record stands at 4-5 overall and 1-2 in UCAA play.
Both RPI and Vassar got off to a quick start on a soggy Ned Harkness Field. Rensselaer began the game with a couple good chances on offense. The RPI forwards converged on Vassar goalie Tara Trifon more than once in the first half and were able to get several quality chances.
Co-captain Jessica Butler helped start the scoring with six minutes left in the first half. Butler carried the ball up the field and dished it to co-captain Sondra Sherman, who got the ball past Trifon with a monster shot. Butler continued to lead the Red Hawks on offense, scoring unassisted three minutes later.
The second half started with RPI maintaining their control of the ball. The Brewers continued to fight and earned some opportunities on offense. After some failed chances on penalty corners, Kaitlin Harvie was able to push the ball through the RPI defense and into the goal 15 minutes into the half.
RPI did not need much time to regroup. Three minutes after Vassar got on the board, Butler found her own rebound and shot it into the goal. She now has seven goals on the season. Bridget Rice put the game out of reach with 10 minutes left in the game when she deflected a Sherman shot past Trifon.
The Rensselaer offense fired 24 shots at the Vassar goal, while Vassar only had 14 shots aimed at RPI goalie Amanda Lund. Vassar goalies Trifon and Sharla Alegria stopped 10 shots and two shots, respectively. Lund made five saves in the win.
The Red Hawks have a long break before their next home game—Rensselaer will play the next four games on the road, with the first game against the Rochester Yellowjackets October 10. RPI’s next home game is against the Hamilton Continentals on October 24 at 3 pm.
