SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The Union College field hockey team dropped its first overtime game of the season on Saturday afternoon, as the Garnet Chargers fell on the wrong side of a 3-2 (OT) score to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on Senior Day at Frank Bailey Field at Bertagna-Class of 1985 Stadium.
Seniors
Maddie Greco and
Rachel Ostiguy scored goals for Union (7-5, 2-2 Liberty League) on the afternoon, as the Garnet Chargers outshot the Engineers by a 13-6 margin but could not take advantage of its opportunities. Rensselaer (9-2, 3-0 Liberty League) got two goals from Emily Dubord and one from Katie Galgay to come away with the win.
As they have in many games this season, the Garnet Chargers came out of the gates on the attack, putting six shots toward goal in less than five minutes. Greco had two great chances in the opening minutes that were denied by goalie Olivia Brovak, but the senior grabbed her own rebound and scored 4:28 into the game to put Union ahead early.
Both teams managed only one shot apiece after the early Union flurry and the Garnet Chargers went into the second frame still up 1-0. The tide flipped in favor of the Engineers in the second stanza, as they held Union without a shot and Galgay took advantage of a Union turnover to knot the score at one headed into halftime.
The third quarter followed a similar script for RPI, as the Engineers took their first lead of the game on an Dubord goal 6:19 into the frame off a penalty corner. Union managed just one shot in the stanza to trail after 45 minutes.
Union regained momentum with a commanding fourth frame, taking the period's only four shots. Ostiguy tied the game three minutes into the fourth, putting home a scramble in front of the RPI net off an assist by senior
Amy Vytopilova. The goal put some energy behind the home team, who had another flurry afterwards that resulted in a penalty stroke, but the shot was missed and the game remained tied. The home team managed only one blocked shot the rest of the way as the game headed to extra time.
Union had the better of play to start overtime as well, earning three penalty corners, but the home team could not manage a shot. On their first extended possession of extra time, RPI earned a penalty corner and Emily Frey inserted up top to Dubord for a shot off the pads of senior goalie
Marion Stuntz and in for the game-winner 4:39 into the extra session.
Stuntz made two saves for Union, while Brovak had six stops for the visitors.
Union will return to action on Friday with a 4 p.m. match at William Smith College.
