The SUNY Oneonta field hockey team played its regular season finale tonight at home against Rensselaer and came up short 3-1.  The Red Dragons will now turn their attention to a meeting with rival Cortland next Wednesday in the semifinals of the 2018 SUNYAC Tournament.  The game will be played in Oneonta and will begin at 4pm.  Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children 5-12.  SUNY Oneonta students are free with their ID.
 
Rensselaer (6-11) opened the scoring in the 20^th minute when Taylor Clink converted a penalty stroke after a foul was called on the Oneonta goalie inside the circle.
 
The Engineers added a second goal five minutes later on a deflected shot that went up and over the shoulder of goalie Carly Olsen (Miller Place/Miller Place).  Mikaela DiBello carried the ball into the circle and took a shot from almost on the end line that was deflected upward by Olivia Jackson who was being closely guarded by an Oneonta defender.
 
Oneonta (10-8) out shot Rensselaer 6-3 in the opening half while earning six penalty corners.  Four of Oneonta's six shots were on cage, but were stopped by RPI goalie Rachel Kaufman.
 
The Engineers put the game out of reach in the 64^th minute on a rebound goal by Charisse Stakutis.  The original play was started on a penalty corner after a shot by Jenna Dolinar was saved by Olsen.  Stakutis was positioned mid-circle to the left and fired a shot to the back of the goal before Olsen could reset herself.
 
The Red Dragons didn't go quietly pressuring the RPI defense in the final five minutes of the contest.  Their pressure paid off in the 68^th minute off a penalty corner.  Sophomore Grace Bilow (Webster/Webster Thomas) inserted the ball to classmate Colleen Geyer (West Nyack/Clarkstown South) who then settled the pass before blasting a shot by Kaufman.
 
Oneonta finished the game outshooting RPI 17-6 including 12 shots on goal.  Kaufman made 11 stops for the Engineers while Olsen made a pair of saves for Oneonta.