SCHENECTADY, NY – Sophomore Mikaela DiBello scored the game winner in overtime to lift Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to a 2-1 field hockey victory over Union College at Frank Bailey Field Sunday. DiBello scored both goals as RPI improved to 7-6 overall and 1-4 in the Liberty League. The Dutchwomen are now 4-10 for the season and 1-4 in league play.
Laura Aptowitz made 11 saves for the Dutchwomen while Rachel Kaufman stopped eight for the Engineers. The guests had a 19-17 shot advantage and Union had seven corners to RPI's four. DiBello had a game high seven shots, six on net.
Just 47 seconds into the overtime, DiBello intercepted a pass and dribbled in around Aptowitz, shooting in the game winner from close in on the right side. It was the second of the day and eighth of the season.
RPI had a 10-7 shot advantage in the first half, which was scoreless for both teams. Cristina Tellez (four) and Megan Jones (two) had all six shots on net, with five stopped by Aptowitz and one a defensive save by Lindsay Baron. Baron's came at 29:04 off the stick of Jones in close for RPI's best scoring opportunity of the half. Aptowitz made three saves in the first 4:32. Kaufman had three stops in the half.
RPI broke the ice and took a 1-0 lead 2:07 into the second half. Taylor Clink drove the ball into the zone and DiBello was there to take it and shoot from five yards out into the left side of the cage. It was her seventh of the season. The Engineers almost added insurance at 46:44. RPI had a two on one but Aptowitz made a diving save on Edgington approximately 10 yards in front.
Union tied it at 1-1 with
Hannah Christian's fourth goal of the year.
Alexa Steriti took the corner from the left and passed to Christian, who took a shot that found the net from 15 yards out to knot the contest at 52:28. The Dutchwomen had two great chances at 61:53 and 61:59.
Stephanie Resnick was stopped in close with a pad save by Kaufman, and the goalkeeper dove to save the rebound by Cleveland.
RPI's DiBello had a golden chance on a break in at 64:53, when Aptowitz came out 10 yards to challenge her. But DiBello got a shot off that was stopped by Union's
Marissa Tarashuk to preserve the tie. After regulation, the Engineers outshot the Dutchwomen, 18-17, and Aptowitz had 11 stops to Kaufman's eight.
Union closes out Liberty League play Thursday at Vassar at 7 p.m., and will have two non-league games after that contest. RPI opens a three game home stand Wednesday night at 7 p.m. with a non-league home game against Middlebury.
