The field hockey team traveled to Nazareth to play the Golden Flyers last Friday, and continued to SUNY-Brockport to face the Golden Eagles on Saturday. RPI lost to Nazareth 2-1, and was shut out by Brockport 2-0. The non-conference losses move RPI’s overall record to 5-8.
At Nazareth, Erin Howe got the Golden Flyers on the board first 16 minutes into the game with a tip from a shot by Jill Wittenberg after a penalty corner. Despite out shooting the Golden Flyers 4-1 in the first half, the Red Hawks were not able to tally a goal.
RPI’s Sarah Salinger tied the game at the start of the second half, with Laurie Young grabbing an assist on the play. With only seven minutes left in the game, Nazareth took the lead again as Kelly Kroening scored off of another penalty corner.
Nazareth goalie Heather Sautter stopped three shots, while RPI’s Amanda Lund saved two.
RPI looked to rebound against Brockport, but the Red Hawks met with some tough resistance. The Golden Eagles took the lead late in the first half on an unassisted goal by Kate Bennett. With only 14 minutes left in the game, Gretchen Brehm increased Brockport’s lead to 2-0 off of a Na’Lisa Rowe assist.
Brockport controlled the play for most of the game. The Golden Eagles fired 20 shots towards Lund, while RPI only managed four shots on Brockport goalie Sarah Sutherland. Lund had 18 saves in the game and Sutherland saved four to earn her fourth shutout of the season.
The Red Hawks play their last two conference games of the season this weekend on Ned Harkness Field. RPI will face the Hamilton Continentals on Friday at 3 pm, and the St. Lawrence Saints at 1 pm Saturday. RPI’s 2-3 UCAA record puts the team tied for fourth in the UCAA. With St. Lawrence in third and Hamilton sitting tied for sixth, RPI will have to play well to retain a spot in the playoffs.
