The Rensselaer women’s lacrosse team got 12 goals from junior Hillary Lahn in three games last week, but the Red Hawks only were able to pick up one win, falling to 6-6 overall and 3-3 in the UCAA. The Red Hawks defeated the Clarkson Golden Knights 13-6 but fell to the St. Lawrence Saints 16-7 and the Nazareth Golden Flyers 10-8.
On Friday, RPI traveled to Potsdam to take on Clarkson. The Golden Knights took an early lead, scoring three goals in the first six and a half minutes. The Red Hawks fought right back, getting four goals from Lahn, junior Elisa Prange, and freshman Kathy Seward to take a 4-3 lead.
For the next 10 minutes, the defensemen and goalies took over. In that span, Clarkson goaltender Allison Morlock made three saves and RPI junior Meghan Gaul made one and got the help of the post on another shot. The Golden Knights evened the score at 4 with 51 seconds remaining in the first half as Lindsay Roberts put a free position shot past Gaul. The Red Hawks quickly got the lead back as Mary Roy and Lahn scored 13 seconds apart to give Rensselaer a 6-4 lead at half.
In the second half, the Red Hawks pulled away as they outscored the Golden Knights 7-2. Mary Beth Cooley and Lahn led the way combining for seven of RPI’s nine points in the half and the Red Hawks walked off with their third straight win 13-6.
Emily Cohen led Clarkson with two goals. Lahn tallied seven goals, and Cooley added two goals and three assists to lead the Red Hawks. Morlock and Erin Duffy combined for 13 saves in the loss, and Gaul made 10 saves in the win.
Saturday, Rensselaer looked to extend their win streak to four as they took on St. Lawrence. The Saints had other thoughts as they came out and controlled the tempo from the start, jumping out to early 3-0 advantage and extending the lead to 9-3 at halftime. Cooley and Lahn tallied the goals for the Red Hawks.
St. Lawrence continued the pressure in the second half scoring the first five goals of the half to take a commanding 14-3 lead. RPI wouldn’t go away quietly as Rebecca Primm scored two goals and assisted on another as the Red Hawks scored four of the last six goals. It wasn’t enough though and RPI fell 16-7.
Carolyn Cherry led the Saints with five goals and two assists and Rebecca Timbers and Cynthia Saul combined for eight saves in the win. The Red Hawks were again led by Lahn, who tallied three goals. Gaul finished with nine saves in the loss.
Yesterday RPI returned to Harkness Field where they took on a talented Nazareth squad. The Golden Flyers came out running with a fast pace, getting two quick goals for their efforts. The Red Hawks settled down after that, however, and used a slower tempo to keep possession in the Nazareth defensive end.
Cooley finally got RPI on the board fifteen minutes in on a great individual effort. Her goal seemed to ignite some fire in the Red Hawks as they scored four more goals in a 12 minute span to take a 5-2 lead into the half. Lahn, Roy, Cooley, and freshman Erin Campbell tallied the goals for Rensselaer.
The second half started with Nazareth getting two quick goals and RPI responding 12 minutes later. Roy stole a clearing pass, took it in, and put a shot past Golden Flyer goalie Lindsey Burgess. This time however the Red Hawk goal seemed to ignite the Nazareth offense. Led by Elizabeth Carney’s four goals, the Golden Flyers scored the next six goals, the final one with coming with 51 seconds remaining. RPI would get goals by Roy and Lahn in the final 30 seconds, but it was too little, too late as the Red Hawks fell 10-8.
Carney and Shawna Kabot led the way for Nazareth combining for seven of the Golden Flyer goals. Roy led RPI with three goals and an assist and Cooley and Lahn netted two goals a piece in the loss. Gaul finished with 15 saves for the Red Hawks.
For her 10 goal effort against Clarkson and St. Lawrence, Lahn was named UCAA Offensive Performer of the Week.
The Red Hawks conclude their regular season campaign this Friday and Saturday when they take on UCAA foes Hamilton and William Smith. Hamilton invades Harkness Field on Friday at 4 pm and the Herons come to do battle on Saturday at 2 pm.
