TROY, N.Y., September 16, 2006 – Springfield College scored twice in the first half and held off Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) for a 2-1 win in non-conference women’s soccer action at Harkness Field. With the victory, the Pride improves to 4-1 while the Red Hawks fall to 2-2-1.

Springfield and Rensselaer battled through a scoreless tie until the 26:10 mark when the Pride capitalized on an own goal by the RPI defense for a 1-0 lead. Off a corner kick, Rensselaer attempted to deflect the ball away, but it went past the reach of senior goalie Tara Marandino for the goal.

Springfield took a 2-0 lead late in the half on a goal by senior Jessica Denehy (Whately, Mass.). Denehy headed the ball into the net off a Jillian Pereira (East Providence, R.I.) feed at 41:41. The score was Denehy's first of the 2006 season, as Pereira picked up her third assist in five matches.

The Red Hawks edged back in the second half when junior Sarah Briggs sent a hard shot into the right side of the net at 51:57. Fighting through the Springfield defense, Briggs corralled a Sarah Hinz cross and scored.

Marandino kept the Red Hawks’ deficite to just one, stopping three consecutive Springfield shots with less than six minutes remaining. She finished with 12 saves in defeat.

Sophomore Sue Jenney (Agawam, Mass.) made five stops in the win for the Pride.

SC will next return home as it faces non-conference foe, Amherst College, in a 7:00 p.m. start on Tuesday evening, September 19th, on Brock-Affleck Field.

published: 09/16/2006