Women's Lacrosse Drops Opener at RPI, 11-7

TROY, N.Y. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) women's lacrosse team scored nine straight goals over three quarters and held on for an 11-7 victory over Westfield State University, on Tuesday night at Renwyck Field. With the win, the Engineers improve to 2-0 on the season, while the Owls open 2022 at 0-1.

After RPI junior Sophie Goddard (Lincoln, RI / Cumberland) fired home the game's opening goal just over two minutes in, the Owls ran off three straight tallies to take a 3-1 lead. Junior Cassidy Harvey (Niskayuna, NY / Niskayuna) netted the first goal of the run, followed by markers from sophomore Natalie DeMaio (Westwood, MA / Westwood) and junior Nicole Rinkus (Pembroke, MA / Pembroke).

The Engineers then scored the next nine goals in the game, including eight in a span of 21:19 to close out the first half, to take a 9-3 lead into the break. Senior Sabrina Torcellini (Branford, CT / Branford) had two goals and one assist during the stretch, while junior Megan Shay (Rochester, MA / Old Rochester Regional) netted a pair. Freshman Claire Shemo (Wallingford, CT /Ethel Walker School) put an exclamation point on the half by netting her second goal of the season with 1.1 seconds remaining.

Classmate Ella Graff (Bloomington, MN / Bloomington Jefferson) opened the second half by the sticking home the second of her team-high three goals to give the Engineers their largest lead of the game at 10-3, just 13 seconds in.

DeMaio answered for the visitors with her second of the game, just over a minute later.

Neither side was able to find the net for over five minutes, with Graff breaking the drought with her sixth of the year, giving RPI an 11-4 advantage with 8:23 to go in the third quarter.

The Owls went on to score the only three goals of the fourth quarter, as they benefited from seven RPI turnovers in the frame. Junior Emma Cretella (Cheshire, CT / Saint Paul Catholic), Rinkus and junior Morgan Burnham (Cambridge, VT / Lamoille Union) all tallied for the visitors. RPI was able to shut the door over the final 4:23 of the game to secure its second win in three days.

Junior Olivia Kimball (North Hampton, NH / St. Thomas Aquinas) made four saves in the first half to pick up the victory between the pipes, while sophomore Jenny Canfield (Great Falls, VA / Langley) had two stops in the second half. Westfield State sophomore Kara Banagan (Niskayuna, NY / Niskayuna) registered 14 saves at the other end of the field.

RPI junior Riley Maready (Colorado Springs, CO / Cheyenne Mountain) filled up the stat sheet with one goal, one assist, eight draw controls, three ground balls and a caused turnover, while Graff finished with three goals, one ground ball and one caused turnover.

The Engineers are back in action on Monday, when they travel to Colorado Springs, Colo., to face Colorado College (5pm). Westfield State visits Western New England on Thursday (4pm).

-- story courtesy RPI sports info