Almost two hours of relentlessly pounding away at the Keuka goal finally paid off when Laura Feeney found the back of the net in the second overtime period of Friday’s game, giving the Red Hawks a hard-fought 1-0 victory over the Storm. This win, along with a blowout of Mount Saint Mary on October 2, extended the team’s season-opening streak to nine victories.
The Red Hawk defense was once again solid, allowing the Storm only five shots in the contest—RPI Goalie Andrea Hamill was called upon to make only two saves all game. Keuka came close to scoring only once, halfway through the first period, when Forward Laura Hart booted a shot off the crossbar.
RPI amassed 11 corner kicks and a whopping 43 shots over the course of the match, but time and again Keuka Goalie Missy Burngasser came up with incredible saves to keep the Storm in the game.
Feeney’s goal came just 10 minutes before the Storm would have escaped with a draw. She intercepted a Keuka pass intended for Burngasser and slid the ball around her into the net for the win.
Paul Bonus, head coach of the Storm, was proud of his team.
"I’m disappointed for the girls, but not with the result. That was a terrible way to lose after hanging in there and playing with a state powerhouse like we did," he said. "I think we surprised some people with how close we played them. We put a real scare into them."
Head Coach Aldo Nardiello of the Red Hawks also lauded his players, as well as the opponents.
"They played a textbook example of low-pressure, numbers-behind-the-ball defense," he said. "Our girls were patient and methodical" and eventually took advantage when the opponents made a mistake.
The Keuka game was a sharp contrast to the match against Mount Saint Mary—the Red Hawks were in control from start to finish and coasted to a 9-0 victory over the hapless Blue Knights, who are now 1-8 on the year.
Freshman midfielders Katie Fredlund and Anne Drames led the offensive onslaught, combining for 16 shots on goal. Fredlund put the ball between the posts three times, leading all scorers. Veterans Heather Bauby and Kristy Nachman each had a goal and an assist, and Mia Corcione, Amy Gontarek, Amanda Gyllstrom, and Bess Krietemeyer contributed one goal apiece.
Hamill and Regina Primm split time in goal, with Primm making the save on the lone shot by the Blue Knights.
The Red Hawks have shut out their last five opponents, outshooting their rivals in those games 151-14. They are ranked seventh in the New York region according to a National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll, and this weekend they will face conference rivals Skidmore and Union.
The team had a conference match against Vassar Tuesday night, but results of that match were not available in time for publication. They also have a tough schedule next week with home games against Hartwick on Tuesday, Manhattanville on Wednesday, and William Smith on Thursday to close out their regular season.
