The Red Hawks faced Hamilton College on October 10 in RPI’s fourth game of the Liberty League schedule. Entering this game, the Red Hawks were ranked 17th in NCAA Division III and were named in the Top 20 Coaches Poll. The first period was filled with intense determination from both teams as each tried to score a goal. RPI had a total of seven penalty corners and 13 shots in the first period and kept the Hamilton goalkeeper busy, forcing her to make a total of 10 saves in the first half. None of the Red Hawks’ shots, however, were successful goals. The Hamilton Continentals were also unable to score a goal and both teams entered the second half with a scoreless tie. With 3:36 left in regulation play, the Continentals were able to beat freshman goaltender Briana Earle following a penalty corner. The Red Hawks were not able to make a comeback in those last few minutes of play, leaving the field with a 0-1 loss ending their six-game winning streak, and placing them in a three-way tie for first in the Liberty League. They shared first place with St. Lawrence and Skidmore College with a league record of 3-1.

The girls were back on the field on October 11 against St. Lawrence. The first goal of the game came with the first penalty corner as the St. Lawrence Saints were able to slip the ball past Earle for an early score 11 minutes into the game. The Red Hawks had their best scoring chance when sophomore Sandy Turnbull was at the top of the crease and pushed the ball right to the goal, but it was kicked away out of bounds by the Saints’ goalkeeper. RPI tried several more times to score a goal, but none of their attempts were successful. Earle made a total of nine saves and the Red Hawks left the field with another loss of 0-1, bringing their record to 8-4 overall and 3-2 in the Liberty League.

Last week the Red Hawks traveled to Utica for a non-league game. Senior Kristiina Baker scored from the side of the net less than a minute into the game off a pass from sophomore Audrey Newcomb for an early 1-0 lead. The Red Hawks were not able to keep the lead for long, as Utica scored in the seventh minute to tie up the score, 1-1. As halftime neared, Utica was able to score another goal and held the lead in shots, 8-4. Entering the second period, the Red Hawks picked up the pressure, out-shooting the Utica Pioneers 8-2, but they could not turn the attempts into goals until it was too late in the match. The Pioneers scored a third goal in 54th minute, creating a two-goal lead that would be hard to catch. RPI, however, was able to bring the game to within one goal in the final minute as Turnbull scored with an assist by Baker. The final score of 2-3 meant another loss for the Red Hawks, bringing their record to 8-5.

On October 21 the Red Hawks hosted Castleton State in another non-league matchup. Going into the game, the Red Hawks had been able to hold an undefeated home record of 5-0, and the girls hoped to hold onto that title as they went into the game. The team was unable to extend that streak, however, losing by a score of 5-4 after a shootout. Baker had a hat trick in the game, and Junior Margaret Chowaniec had knotted the game at four with under two-and-a-half to play to force overtime, but the Red Hawks were unable to come away with a victory.