Box Score 

WAYNE, N.J. – RPI (1-0) used a 2-1 advantage during the penalty-stroke shootout to open its field hockey season with a 2-1 victory at William Paterson (1-1) Sept. 4.

After Alissa Peterson and Melissa Szeliga (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) were unsuccessful during the first round, Erika Hawksley drilled her shot to the upper left to give RPI a 1-0 edge. Freshman Jaclyn Bertos (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Knolls) followed by sending her attempt off the stick of Engineer goalie Briana Earle and into the back of the cage to even the series.

Junior Meghan Trivett (Highlands, N.J./Middletown North) saved a Holly Dupuis shot up the middle, but Earle followed with the same effort against a Meghan Bardeer (Westampton, N.J./Rancocas Valley Regional) attempt. Freshman Sarah Krolus beat Trivett inside the right post for a 2-1 Engineer lead, followed by a miss wide left by Erin Garces (Cream Ridge, N.J./New Egypt). Alex Lamparski saw her attempt saved by Trivett to the right, leaving the door open for the Pioneers to tie the series during the final round, but freshman Jacqui Giammetta (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) was denied by Earle to the lower-left side of the cage.

Freshman Kelsey Porter broke through for her first career goal when she finished a Sandy Turnbull pass at the right post in the 11th minute. That was the best opportunity of the opening period as RPI owned a 1-0 lead at halftime.

William Paterson was able to capitalize off a penalty corner with 9:16 to play when the ball was played out long to Szeliga, who sent it back into the circle to senior Amanda Sheehan (Boonton, N.J./Boonton). Sheehan's shot found the inside-right edge of the cage, evening the contest at 1-1.

Each side had a quality chance during the first overtime session. The first was by the Pioneers on a Sheehan breakaway up the center of the field, but Earle stepped up and stonewalled the William Paterson senior before she get a full-fledged shot off. The other was a Dupuis shot that Trivett stopped, but the official indicated a penalty stroke would be awarded as a result of the play. Dupuis sent the stroke up and to the left, but Trivett knocked it away at the post with 30.4 seconds remaining in the extra session.

The best opportunity of the second overtime was on a WP corner, but Earle turned away three shots within a 10-second span to keep it a 1-1 contest.

Earle had 11 saves for RPI and Trivett had 10 for the Pioneers.

William Paterson will host Wheaton Sunday, Sept. 5, at 1:00 p.m.