TROY, NY — The RIT (5-3, 0-1 Liberty League) women's lacrosse team lost a defensive battle, 7-5 at Rensselaer (3-4, 1-0 Liberty League) in the Liberty League opener for both schools on Saturday afternoon. The Tigers scored just five goals despite outshooting the Engineers 17-16.

RIT had 18 ground balls to 21 for Rensselaer. The Tigers won 4-of-14 draw controls, and went 15-of-16 on clearing attempts. Sammy Ward (Baldwinsville, NY/C.W. Baker) scored two goals for RIT, while Maegan Schmauder (Franklin, MA/Franklin) and Sydney DaCosta (New Bedford, MA/Bishop Stang) each scored a goal. Emily Livecchi (Rochester, NY/Our Lady of Mercy) added a goal and an assist, while Nicole Bingo (Webster, NY/Webster Schroeder) won two draws, grabbed two ground balls and caused three turnovers. Rebekah Snikoff suffered her first collegiate loss in net, making seven saves. 

Sophie Hager led Rensselaer with four points on three goals and an assist. Morgan Doyle added a goal and an assist, while Allie Claroni, Abbey Salvon and Liz Brady each scored a goal. Aleena Milinski was strong in net for the Engineers, making five saves. 

Brady gave RPI a lead early in the first half on her goal off a free position attempt at 22:37. DaCosta tied the game at 1-1 on her goal off an assist from Emily Livecchi (Rochester, NY/Our Lady of Mercy) at the 19:31 mark. Schmauder converted a free position attempt for RIT just 34 seconds later to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead.

Claroni tied the game with her goal at 14:24. Ward tallied two straight for RIT. The first, a free position goal, came with 10:45 to play. The second was an unassisted goal with 4:40 to play to give RIT a 4-2 lead. Hager scored two straight for RPI to close out the first half tied 4-4. Her second goal came with 45 seconds to play in the half.

Doyle opened the second-half scoring with a goal 58 seconds in to give RPI a 5-4 lead. Hager struck with 28:48 to play, giving the Engineers a 6-4 lead. Livecchi pulled RIT to within a goal on her tally at the 22:11 mark.

The Tigers had several good chances to tie the game, but RPI's defense came up big in the second half. Salvon gave the Engineers a two-goal cushion, scoring with 5:36 to play to make it 7-5.
 
RIT returns to action at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 2 when the Tigers face Skidmore College in Liberty League action from Saratoga Springs, N.Y.