The Red Hawks, who went 1-2 in the week, suffered their first two losses of the season in painful fashion to Hamilton 8-1 Tuesday in Clinton, N.Y., and at SUNY New Paltz 6-3 at the Sharp Courts. RPI would rebound to easily defeat Plattsburgh St. 9-0 on the road in Plattsburgh.

The ladies are already having an impressive year stretching a six game win streak and knocking off nemesis Nazareth in the RPI Invitational for the first time in four years. Despite all the success, they seemed due for a loss and the state’s third ranked team was prepared to give it to them.

Rensselaer lost five tiebreakers in what was a tightly contested match despite what the final score might have indicated. According to RPI Head Coach Carol Pillsworth the girls appeared a little intimidated, which may have been the difference in the match.

“The girls played incredibly well,” Pillsworth said. It really was a heartbreaking loss. To play so well and come up short is tough.”

Pillsworth stated that this was the best Hamilton team she had seen in 25 years—a scary thought considering the Continentals have been ranked number one in years past.

Emily Emerick replaced Rami Ishikawa at the number one spot in an effort to give her freshman a chance to face the best in New York. Inexperience is an issue on the RPI squad, which has 13 freshmen and sophomores.

After the loss to Hamilton Pillsworth admitted she was uncertain how the girls would perform, and while they challenged an excellent New Paltz team, the Red Hawks were unable to pull out the win.

“Nothing really replaces experience,” Pillsworth said. “We have players with experience, but even our sophomores don’t really know what to expect sometimes. They won’t until they become seasoned vets.”

And while Emerick, a transfer from Clarkson, is only a freshman, the team has several senior leaders including Ishikawa and Florine Cannelle.

“Rami is very smart and deceptive, which is something Emily needs to work on,” Pillsworth said. “Florine has been hot all season. She has a natural slice in her shot that has been really frustrating her opponents.”

However, the main reason for RPI’s “struggles” over the past week could simply be that they have, and will continue to play better teams as the season progresses. Hamilton was just beginning of a difficult league schedule for Rensselaer. The Liberty League boasts the state’s top five teams, and Pillsworth admits it may be reasonable for the Red Hawks to end up a distance sixth or seventh as it enters the post season. Nevertheless, the coach still sees this squad as having a chance to shock a few teams this year.

“The post season will provide a great opportunity for the girls.” Pillsworth said. “It will be some of the best players in the state competing and I’m excited to see how the ladies will respond.”