The Rensselaer Red Hawks women’s soccer team kicked off the 2004 campaign on a slow note, getting only one goal in three games, tying the Russell Sage Gators 0-0, and losing to the WPI Engineers 1-0 and the MIT Engineers 2-1.

On Wednesday, the Red Hawks traveled to Siena to take on their cross-town rivals in Rensselaer’s season opener.

Although the rain made the ball and footing slick, RPI controlled the play in the Russell Sage defensive end of the field for most of the game, out-shooting the Gators 24-3 including 16 shots on goal.

The Red Hawks, however, could not convert the shots into goals as Gator goalie Schuyler Kokernak was up to the task, as well as getting a few lucky bounces. In the first half, RPI got nine shots on goal, but most of them were right at Kokernak.

Nine minutes into the second half, senior Anne Drames got the ball in the middle of the field and sent a pass to the right corner that fellow senior Betsy Farmer ran down. Farmer directed the ball into the 18-yard box to sophomore Emily Wheeler, who controlled the ball and fired, just missing the goal, putting the ball into the side netting.

The best opportunities for the Red Hawks came in the second overtime. With about four and a half minutes left, junior Katie Lavelle put a cross in from the right side. The ball bounced right in front of Kokernak and skipped on the wet ground to the far post where there was a flurry of shots and deflections from both teams. RPI was finally able to get a weak shot through the crowd but it was cleared away at the last second by a Gator defender.

Two minutes later, junior Rebecca Primm received a pass off a turnover in the 18-yard box. She chipped the ball over the head of a charging Kokernak but the ball hit the crossbar and bounced away.

Drames and freshman Sarah Briggs led RPI with four shots on goal apiece.

Kokernak finished with 16 saves and Red Hawk senior keeper Regina Primm recorded three saves.

Over the weekend, Rensselaer traveled to Hoboken, N.J. to participate in the Engineers Cup at Stevens Tech. Saturday, the Red Hawks took on WPI. Unlike the Russell Sage game, RPI was on the defensive for most of the game, getting out-shot 22-6.

The Red Hawks’ best opportunities came in the first half when they got four of their five shots, although only one of them was on goal. In the 59th minute, Ashley Maiorano fed a pass to Megan Holmes, who put a shot toward the left corner that beat Regina Primm to give the Engineers the only goal they would need.

Regina Primm finished with 11 saves and WPI goaltender Manda Otterman had one.

Sunday, RPI finished their three game road trip against MIT. The Red Hawks came out a little flat, letting in two goals in the first 21 minutes. Eleven and a half minutes into the game Amy Ludlum put a shot to the left past Regina Primm off a pass from Ashleigh Leonard. Ten minutes later it was Leonard finding net off a pass from Andrea Staid.

The Red Hawks bounced back fifteen minutes later. Freshman Andi Trinwald, seeing her first collegiate action, sent a ball to Rebecca Primm, who put RPI on the board for the first time this season. It was the last serious offense either team could muster and the Red Hawks walked away without a win on the season.

MIT goalie Katherine Vater had two saves and Regina Primm recorded three saves.

RPI returns to Harkness Field on Saturday against NYU at 2 pm for their home opener.