TROY, N.Y. - Senior Sara Stylinski scored the lone goal and freshman Briana Earle stopped all eight shots she faced as the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute field hockey team defeated Keene State University, 1-0, at Harkness Field.  The game was the season opener for both teams.

 Following a scoreless first half, Stylinski (Southington, CT/Southington), a forward, broke the tie  when her low, hard shot found the back of the goal untouched off a penalty corner pass from sophomore Sandy Turnbull (Upperville, VA/Chatham Hall).  The goal came at the 52:43 mark.

 Earle (Baldwinsville, NY/C.W. Baker) earned the shutout in her first collegiate contest by stopping two shots in the first half and six in the second.  Keene State's Vikki Stoessel (Derry, NH/Pinkerton Academy), a junior goalkeeper, made six saves, including five in the second stanza.

 The Owls were led offensively by juniors Erin Dallas (Marlow, NH/Keene), who had eight shots, including three on goal, and Carly Benning (Brewster, MA/Nauset Regional), who had a game-high four shots on goal and six total.

 The homestanding Red Hawks are back in action next weekend when they travel to Montclair State on Saturday (5pm) and William Paterson on Sunday (1pm).  Keene State returns to the field on Thursday at 4pm at Castleton State.