Box Score

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (October 1, 2008) – Vassar senior goalie Taylor Herman (Flemington, NJ/Hunterdon Central), kept her team on the brink of an upset against No. 18 nationally ranked Rensselaer Wednesday afternoon in Liberty League field hockey action, but a relentless Red Hawks attack in the offensive end was difficult to keep down, and visiting RPI scored two second half goals en route to a 2-0 victory over the Brewers at Weinberg Field.

The loss, Vassar's third straight in league play, drops the Brewers to 3-7, 0-3. Vassar will next play at St. Lawrence on Friday, October 10. RPI, which won its sixth straight game and sits atop Liberty League standings with St. Lawrence, improves to 8-2, 3-0. RPI next visits Hamilton on the same date.

Vassar's Herman, who made eight superb saves in the game, seven in the first half – when RPI was mounting a strong offensive attack - adeptly handled a barrage of Red Hawks shots, 19 in all, and 12 alone in the first half. Rensselaer senior forward Lisa Pak (Methuen, MA/Methuen) led her team with four shots and eight different Red Hawks players were involved in pressuring the Vassar defense throughout the game.

Despite RPI's commanding first half, Vassar's defense held firm and the game was tied 0-0 at intermission. It wasn't until the 17th minute of the game when the deadlock was lifted. RPI junior forward Margaret Chowaniec (Burlington, CT/Lewis Mills) broke the tie with her first goal of the season following a nifty feed from junior forward Kristina Baker (Bolton, MA/Nashoba Regional). Baker orchestrated her assist by breaking free from her defender along the baseline.

The Brewers, who managed only four shots in the first half, were decidedly more offensive-minded in the second half, getting off seven shots, but only two were on goal. Sophomore forward Jessica Lance (Enfield, CT/Enfield) had a game high six shots on goal, but only one Brewer shot had any real significance. Senior forward Hannah Beswick (Wilmington, DE/Wilmington Friends) placed a hard shot on goal late in the second half, but it was right on target and capably handled by RPI freshman goalie Briana Earle (Baldwinsville, NY/C.W. Baker). Earle had two saves in the game and registered her third shutout of the season, best in the Liberty League.

With 25 seconds to play, RPI got an unassisted insurance goal from junior forward Shaina Feldman (Phoenixville, PA/Phoenixville Area) in a crowded crease. She slipped her shot into the upper left corner of the net.

RPI had 16 penalty corners to Vassar's seven.