Twenty games. That’s the number of times in a row that teams tried, and failed, to defeat Hamilton at home in Clinton, N.Y.
However, that trend came to abrupt halt as the Rensselaer men’s lacrosse team ended the Continentals’ 20-game home winning streak with a passionate 9-7 road victory. The win improved RPI’s record to 6-2 overall and 2-0 in the competitive UCAA.
“I didn’t even know we ended their win streak; that they had won that many in a row at home,” Rensselaer Head Coach Tom Korrie admitted. “This is a big win because it gives us a step up on Hamilton in the conference standings.”
A fired-up RPI squad jumped out to the lead early in what proved to be a high scoring first quarter off an unassisted effort by Matt Curtis and an Andrew Teichman goal assisted by Ryan Frisch.
“I give the captains a great deal of credit for having everyone ready to go,” Rensselaer Head Coach Tom Korrie said. “Everyone came out with a lot of intensity. We played at an extremely high level which enabled us to grab the early lead.”
However, Hamilton, poised on their home field, took little time to get even as they quickly notched the game at 2-2 less than a minute after the Teichman score. Standout Jim Henry and teammate Jack Newton were responsible for the goals, Henry tallying the first and Newton putting the second past Rensselaer goaltender Ryan Michels.
Frisch retook the lead for the Red Hawks as he beat Hamilton goalie Jason Mleczko on a classy unassisted move, giving RPI a brief one goal lead to end the first quarter.
But the Rensselaer lead would not last long as Newton answered right back, taking a pass from Henry and evening to score at 3-3.
This, unfortunately for the Continentals, would be the last time the score would be all square, as the Red Hawks scored four unanswered goals spanning from the early second to the late third quarter.
Rensselaer’s Chris Sherman scored two goals in the second; one a loner and the other off a beautiful feed from Adam LoGuidice making the score 5-3 at halftime.
The third quarter began in virtually the same way as the second ended, as Frisch fed LoGuidice for his first goal of the game, which was soon followed by Sherman’s third goal of the game off a feed from Luc Ruglis.
“Ruglis and Frisch both played great game the whole way at midies,” Korrie said. “They made some great assists, did a solid job on the clears, and without their efforts the attack would never see the ball. They also created numerous scoring opportunities of which Adam and Chris were the benefactors.”
Hamilton did not go down quietly as they stormed back into the game with a 3-0 run of their own that stretched into the fourth quarter.
LoGuidice, however, stretched the lead back to three with his second goal off a nice dish from Ruglis, and his third, and final goal of the game, on a savvy unassisted play.
With the three goal lead, Michels and the defense took control from there. Michels was clutch late, making 13 of his 17 saves in the second half, seven of which came in the fourth quarter.
“The defense can make a goalie look good and a goalie can make a defense look good,” Korrie commented. “We have a very unselfish team and everyone does their part.”
Defenseman Corey Ingram certainly aided in Michels’ success, as he held Hamilton’s star, Henry, in check for most of the game. Henry managed just one goal and two assists on the day.
“Corey did a great job on their best attack player,” Korrie said. “He always draws the toughest assignment and we rely on him to shut those guys down.”
Despite the solid conference road victory Korrie and the Red Hawks are not content with Saturday’s performance.
Korrie cited several mental breakdowns by veteran players and poor ball control at times that allowed Hamilton to remain within striking distance.
“We know we cannot be perfect, but our goal is to play error free ball as much as possible,” Korrie said. “We need to be more conscious and accountable for our mistakes so they do not occur again.”
The Red Hawks will begin the crucial month of April with a non-league match up with an underrated Elmira team before they get into the brunt of UCAA play. RPI will be battling for playoff position and home field advantage as the conference season gets into full swing.
