After starting the season with several frustrating losses, the field hockey team finally saw the tables turn their way as they went 2-0 in the first weekend of league play. After shutting out Union College on Friday, the Red Hawks took down 14th ranked Skidmore College to finish off their perfect weekend at Harkness Field.
Early in the season, the team was scheduled against some of the best teams in the nation—thus their record is less than stellar. “We play challenging teams so we know what’s out there,” explained senior goalie Liz Szewczak.
“When you play better teams, you get better,” said junior defender Sarah Merlin.
“Playing tougher teams, it has definitely paid off,” agreed sophomore forward Kerri Clark.
The top-ranked teams might have consistency going for them, but the Red Hawks have their own special magic. “We’re a very unified group, friends on and off the field,” said senior midfielder Emily Carroll.
“We’re very finesse, look for those perfect passes, looking towards perfection,” said senior goalie Jen O’Neil.
The strong Liberty League performance was very important in putting the season back on track for the team. “The Skidmore game was huge,” said Szewczak.
“It was a fight to the last two minutes,” added Merlin.
Clark was named Liberty League Offensive Performer of the Week for her three goals, including the game-winner with just over a minute to play to knock off Skidmore. “Definitely a huge weekend, one of my goals for the whole season was to beat Skidmore,” she said on the team’s two shutout wins.
Szewczak was named Liberty League Defensive Performer of the Week for those two shutouts that kept the team alive. “It was definitely huge from a goalie standpoint; you have so much pressure on you in a tie-game situation,” said fellow goalie O’Neil.
“Communication always starts in the backfield; Liz was great to start it, and keep working it up the field,” explained Merlin of the goalie’s performance.
In the 5-0 trampling of Union, the offense was the highlight led by sophomore forward Kerri Clark’s two goals. After finding the ball in a scrum of players, freshman Margaret Chowaniec tallied her first goal as a Red Hawk. Sophomore Kristiina Baker added another in the final minutes of the first half. Clark struck again early in the second half, followed by classmate Sara Sylinski.
Szewczak stayed steady in the net, making two saves to back up RPI’s strong defense.
The 1-0 win over nationally-ranked Skidmore brought the Red Hawk record to 4-4 and dealt the second loss of the season to the Thoroughbreds. The teams remained locked in a tie with the defense taking control of the game. Luckily for Rensselaer, Clark sunk her third goal of the weekend by the left side of goaltender Meredith Peeke and won the game in regulation.
The weekend’s defensive stand was praised by the coach and teammates after the game. “They were absolutely amazing, especially during the Skidmore tie game—they didn’t let anything by,” said Clark of the defensive show put on by Szewczak and her teammates.
The team still has its work cut out for it, with games against William Smith College and University of Rochester yet to come. This Wednesday, they play at 4 pm on the grass at Vassar College and will hopefully keep their winning streak alive.
