RPI Edges Endicott
Sept. 2, 2006
SPRINGFIELD, MA - RPI sophomore forward Lisa Pak (Methuen, Mass.) scored two goals to lead the Engineers past Endicott College, 3-2, Saturday in the first-round of the Zenaty/Springfield College Invitational at SC's Benedum Field.
In the other first round contest, Springfield College opened its season with a 2-0 victory over cross-town rival Western New England College. As a result, Springfield will meet Rensselaer in the championship game at 1 pm tomorrow (Sunday) at Benedum. In the consolation game at 11 am, WNEC will take on Endicott.
Dotty Potter Zenaty, for whom the tourney is named, is a legendary coaching figure at Springfield College. In a 34-year period before retiring following the 2003 season, she finished with 377 career victories, most ever in New England, and 5th most nationally. Her SC teams reached the NCAA Division III national semis in 1999, and the NCAA Championship game in 2000.
Junior forward Michelle Clemente (Rensselaer, N.Y.) scored the only goal of the first half at 6:43, giving RPI a quick 1-0 lead. But just three minutes into the second half, Gulls senior midfielder Caitlin Murray (Templeton, Mass.) tied it at 1-1.
Pak then took advantage of a pair of Endicott miscues by scoring two consecutive goals on penalty strokes in a three and a half minute span. Pak scored her first goal with 16:44 left, her second with 13:16 left.
Endicott did not go away, applying pressure for much of the remainder of the contest. Junior forward Jennifer Rheaume (Blackstone, Mass.) tallied for the Gulls just 1:30 after Pak's second goal to cut it to 3-2. Endicott outshot RPI, 14-13. Each team had 6 short corners. For Endicott, senior goalkeeper Erin Curry (Hampstead, N.H.) was credited with 10 saves. For RPI, senior goalkeeper Liz Szewczak (Enfield, Conn.) made 12 saves.