ALBANY, N.Y. – Russell Sage College Field Hockey closed the home portion of its slate with an 8-1 Empire 8 Conference loss to Houghton on Saturday afternoon.
After honoring three defenders as part of the pre-game "Senior Day" ceremony, the Gators commenced the matinee strong, getting on the board just 1:05 in.
Midfielder Alexa Wentz (Whitney Point, NY/ Whitney Point), a grad student, netted the marker.
Houghton (9-7/4-4 E8), which secured a spot in the E8 Conference Championship Tournament with the road victory, answered with three goals in a 3:27 span to gain control.
Senior forward Jace Hunzinger led the Highlanders, which out-shot RSC by an 18-7 margin, with three goals.
RSC (1-14/1-7 E8) concludes its campaign on Saturday morning at Utica.
Senior Day: Before the matinee, Russell Sage College Athletics recognized three Gator defenders: Anna Church (Reading, VT/Green Mountain Union), Megan Daniels (Groveland, MA/Pentucket), and Shauna Lanoue (Troy, NY/Columbia) for their contributions to the field hockey program.
Gator Bites: The fall marks the first with Head Coach Carissa Warren leading the Gators…She arrived to Albany from two-time defending Empire 8 Conference Champion Hartwick…RSC delivered Warren her first career victory on September 27, a 7-0 E8 shutout of visiting Elmira…The Gators made the E8 Championship Tournament for the first time in 2023…11 players, including All-Conference selections: Wentz and sophomore midfielder Cheyanne Zobel (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa), returned from the squad…RSC goalkeepers have been busy this fall, opening the week leading the country with 16.00 saves per-game…Freshman goalkeeper Olivia Brand (Little Falls, NY/Little Falls) received an honorable mention to be the NFHCA Division III Defensive Player of the Week for the period ending Sunday, September 29…The rookie scored a goal in the September 27 shutout of visiting Elmira before making 13 saves in her first collegiate start, a 2-0 non-conference setback at RPI on September 28…She was chosen the E8 Defensive Player of the Week honors for her efforts…Brand established the program's single-game record, along with the 2024 NCAA Division III high water mark, with 39 saves versus Skidmore on October 16.
