Junior Katie Lavelle scored two goals but they were not enough as the Rensselaer Red Hawks women’s soccer failed to record its first win, losing 3-2 to the Vassar Brewers Friday in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
The first half was dominated by the Brewers, who out-shot the Red Hawks 9-3. Senior goaltender Regina Primm, made six of her eight saves in the first half while the rest of the RPI defense were solid in their efforts to keep the ball out of the Rensselaer net.
In the 56th minute, Vassar midfielder Claire Beitcher sent a cross to Sarah Combs who controlled the ball and chipped it over Primm to give the Brewers a 1-0 lead.
The Red Hawks responded a minute and a half later when Lavelle pulled RPI even. She took a cross from senior Jess Chetuck and snuck the ball inside the right post past Brewer goalie Lisa Strumwasser.
Vassar regained the lead eight minutes later. Combs received a pass from Nicole Daddazio on the right side and beat Primm for a second time.
With about five minutes left in the game, the Brewers added an insurance goal. Daddazio picked up her second assist of the game, feeding a ball to Kate Bossange who beat Primm to give Vassar a 3-1 lead.
Thirty-eight seconds later, Lavelle pulled the Red Hawks within one. Lavelle got the ball, dribbled it into the Brewer box and took a shot that again found the inside of the right post past Strumwasser.
It was too little too late however, and RPI came away with its sixth straight one-goal loss.
The Brewers improved to 5-3, while the Red Hawks fell to 0-6-1 on the season.
RPI will take to the field again this Friday and Saturday, when they travel to take on Liberty League foes William Smith and Hamilton.
The Red Hawks who, are getting dangerously close to having a winless season, can still savage the season—and possibly make the playoffs— if they can win the majority of their remaining Liberty League games.
