On October 9, the Brewers of Vassar came to Harkness Field and promptly made the Red Hawks look like a high school team. Just eight minutes into the game, mass confusion in front of the RPI goal led to a goal by Vassar’s Courtney Mersereau. Towards the end of the period, the Brewers added two more goals, putting the Red Hawks behind by a daunting three-goal margin at the half.

RPI, however, wasn’t about to roll over and die. The Red Hawks, led by Captain Amanda Gyllstrom, rallied their potent offense in the second half, ending with 23 shots for the game.

Gyllstrom opened the scoring for Rensselaer on a penalty kick six minutes into the half, and then assisted on a Kelly Fogarty goal 90 seconds later. She then tied the game on another penalty kick with 30 minutes to play.

The Red Hawks fired off several more shots during the remainder of the half, but it was Gyllstrom who once again came through, completing the hat trick on a free kick with 45 seconds left in regulation and giving RPI a spectacular 4-3 victory.

Friday’s match was much less nerve-wracking for the Red Hawks as they dominated the Skidmore Thoroughbreds. RPI outshot Skidmore 21-2 and shut out the Thoroughbreds, 3-0, on goals from Susan Gonyea, Heather Bauby, and Bess Krietemeyer.

Saturday’s game began in much the same way as the Vassar match for the Red Hawks. Union picked up three goals in the first half, including a pair from freshman Molly Flanagan. This time, though, the Red Hawks were unable to mount a comeback—the nationally ranked Dutch-women were much less prone to committing fouls, and their defense limited the number of shots Rensselaer was able to get off. Union Goalie Carylon Stead took care of any shots that got past the backs, making seven saves in a shutout effort as the Dutchwomen went on to win, 3-0.

The loss means that the Red Hawks must win Thursday’s game against William Smith, the region’s top-ranked team, to have any chance at the conference title. A victory in that game would mean that the Red Hawks, the Dutchwomen, and the Herons would all end with 6-1 UCAA records, and the conference title would be decided by goal differential.

It will be a tough match for Rensselaer, especially since it will be the team’s third game in three days. On Tuesday, the Red Hawks took on a tough Hartwick Hawks squad—results from that match were not available in time for publication. Today, RPI hosts Manhattanville in a non-conference game.

Head Coach Aldo Nardiello said that he plans to utilize many of the team’s younger players in today’s game, giving the team’s usual starters a chance to rest up for the match against William Smith.