RPI’s field hockey team split a weekend trip to New Jersey in two close-fought games, losing to the Montclair State University Red Hawks 4-3, and defeating the William Patterson University Pioneers 3-2. The Red Hawks finish the week out with an overall record of 2-1.
Saturday’s match pitted RPI against Montclair State. The cherry and white took the lead early as junior Kristiina Baker capitalized on a long breakaway pass from classmate Megan McNamara just under five minutes into the game. Montclair added their first goal of four straight at 11:07 with a shot by junior Rebecca Dobiesz. MSU sophomore Diana Colombo would add two tallies to her name, and junior Megan Pietrunti would add another as well.
With a drive to the finish, RPI scored two more goals in the second half, including a chip shot eight yards out by senior Lisa Pak at 48:44. The final goal of the game came with less than 12 minutes remaining, as RPI converted on a midfield turnover resulting in a three-on-naught rush. Junior Margaret Chowaniee fed a pass to freshman Morgan Danner to bring it within one, but it wasn’t enough, as Montclair goaltender Emina Udnja stopped shots by Chowaniee and sophomore Sandy Turnbull in the final seconds of play. MSU remains undefeated with the victory, with a record of 2-0.
“Montclair is a solid team year in and year out, and is consistently reaching post-season and in tough games against big name programs. We came out strong on Saturday caught them off guard by scoring first. They battled back and scored a couple of quick rebound goals but we were resilient and never gave up,” head coach Bridget LaNoir explained.
Sunday afternoon the Red Hawks made the short drive over to Wayne, N.J., to face-off against William Patterson. Turnbull converted on her blocked shots of the previous day, adding two goals in the win. Freshman goaltender Sarah Burcher made three saves in her first appearance of the season.
Turnbull began scoring at 16:43 off a corner kick roughly eight yards out from the goal. The Pioneers tied it up 10 minutes later at 26:01, as senior Meghan Hall added an unassisted tally from six yards out. Seconds before closing out the first half, the Red Hawks reclaimed their lead, as sophomore Jessica Corrigan knocked in a pass from freshman Emily Morin.
William Patterson quickly came backwith junior Chelsea Winkelspecht’s goal 18 seconds into the latter half, but was unable to maintain the tie as Turnbull added her second of the game off of a pass from Danner with 11:59 remaining.
RPI field hockey goes back into action later this week, with a game Wednesday the 10th at Hartwick College, play beginning at 7 pm, and returning home to Harkness Field on September 13 against SUNY Cortland, beginning at 2 pm. “After Saturday’s game we acknowledged some things that we can clean up and are continuing to focus on these things this week as we face a couple of tough opponents in Hartwick and Cortland,” said LaNoir.
