The RPI women’s lacrosse team was home on Thursday for a season finale with Skidmore College. The Red Hawks had struggled as of late, enduring a three-game losing streak, and were looking to turn things around versus the Thoroughbreds.
Skidmore came out firing on all cylinders, and grabbed an early 4-0 advantage over RPI. Sophomores Jordan McManama and Laura Flynn scored 22 seconds apart for the first two Skidmore scores. Laura Flynn scored again at the 18:36 mark, and classmate Elise Britt scored on a free position shot just one minute later.
Freshman Sam Fennessey got things going for Rensselaer, scoring the team’s first goal at the 16:05 mark. Skidmore, though, got hot and rallied off six consecutive goals. Laura Flynn scored two more times. Britt and McManama each scored for the second time, and Katie Weber and Natasha Fahey stepped in on the goal-scoring action as the Thoroughbreds then held a 10-1 lead, which would be the score headed into halftime.
In the first half, RPI was outshot 19-12; had four less ground balls, 21-17; and had three more turnovers, 15-12, than its opponent. The Red Hawks would have to turn things around if they wished to straighten up and fly right in the second half.
When play resumed, it was RPI who came out with some life. Sophomore Carly Mahony and senior Andrea Flynn each scored for Rensselaer, less than two minutes apart, and cut the Skidmore lead to 10-3.
The Thoroughbreds responded with three straight goals over the next eight minutes: one from McManama, one from sophomore Allie Vogel, and one from freshman Abbie Klaus.
RPI made a late run with three goals of its own. Sophomore Kerri Clark scored two unassisted goals, and Fennessey scored her second with 36 seconds remaining in the game, but it would not be enough as the Red Hawks ultimately fell by a score of 13-6.
Laura Flynn led the way for Skidmore with her four goals and two assists. In addition, McManama scored three, and Britt had two goals and one assist. RPI was paced by Clark and Fennessey who both scored twice. Andrea Flynn and Mahony each had one. Freshman Emily Perkins made five saves in goal during the first half while classmate Ariana Hood stopped four shots in the second half.
On the game, RPI was slightly outshot 31-26; held the advantage in ground balls, 34-32; turned the ball over 26 times; and was 2-2 in free position shots.
The Red Hawks finish the season with an overall record of 4-10 while going 2-6 in the Liberty League. The RPI women will graduate seniors Emily Pulli, Andrea Flynn, and Sabrina Alimi.
Clark was the team leader in points with a combination of 25 goals and six assists. Fennessey led the team in goals scored with 27 and ground balls with 44, and junior Carly Strife led the team with eight assists. Mahony, Clark, Alimi, and junior Natalie White each scored a game-winning goal on different occasions.
While the team finished six games below .500, the core of young and talented underclassmen got plenty of on-the-job experience, and will undoubtedly grow from all that they learned during the course of this rigorous season. Look for the young Red Hawks to get back on track next season as they make great strides and improve as a team and a program.
