UNION NOTCHES 3-1 WIN OVER SAINTS IN RPI TOURNAMENT

TROY, N.Y. - The Union College women's soccer team scored just 1:28 into the game and the Dutchwomen, led by three different goal scorers, defeated Emmanuel College, 3-1, in the season opening 2012 Rensselaer Invitational. Union captured the tournament title by winning both of its games.  The Saints fell to 1-1 and placed second in the tournament.

The Dutchwomen jumped out to the early lead when sophomore Mollie Gilchrist (Johnsonville, N.Y./Hoosic Valley Central) connected for the third time in two days. She finished a Jennifer Mansfield (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John Jay) cross that was deflected by her sister, Melissa Mansfield (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John Jay), who was credited with the assist.

Jennifer, a senior, doubled the lead when she drove down the right side, fended off an Emmanuel player and sent a shot off the goalie that crossed the goal line. The goal, which came in the 27th minutes, was also her third of the season.

Junior Laura Snowden (Schenectady, N.Y./Schalmont) gave Union a three-goal edge when she finished a cross from freshman Jessica Farland (Fiskdale, Mass./Tantasqua Regional) in the 34th minute.

Emmanuel got its goal in the 74th minute when junior Darcey Sullivan (Dalton, Mass./Wahconah Regional) scored on a rebound of a Kelsie Dumas (Dalton, Mass./Wahconah Regional) shot. Union goalkeeper Allison Brustowicz (Newton, Mass./The Rivers School) made an acrobatic save on the shot by Dumas but the rebound caromed to Sullivan, who tallied her first of the season.

Senior Kayla Marti (Newburgh, N.Y./Newburgh Free Academy) started for the Dutchwomen, making one save in the first half. Brustowicz finished with three saves.

Emmanuel starting goalkeeper Jessica D'Ottavio (Pawling, N.Y./Pawling), who was outstanding in shutting out Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute the night before, had seven saves on 10 shots. Jenna Marcello (Hopedale, Mass./Hopedale) played the final 23:46 and had one stop.

Union, which held a 20-7 advantage in shots and an 8-2 edge in corner kicks, hosts SUNY New Paltz on Wednesday at 4pm. The Saints play again on Tuesday when they travel to Nichols College for a 4pm start.

- Release courtesy of RPI Sports Information Department