Montclair, NJ – Senior forward Brooke Hullings (Delran, NJ, Delran) scored early in the first half while sophomore Katie Lipsit (Lumberton, NJ, Rancocas Valley)added a goal later in the second half a second-ranked Montclair State improved got past Rensselaer 2-0 in the Red Hawks' home opener at Sprague Field on Saturday.

Sophomore goalkeeper Rebecca Brattole (Clark, NJ, Arthur L. Johnson) made three late saves for the Red Hawks, who are off to a 2-0 start for the third straight season. Montclair also improved to 8-1 all-time against the Engineers, the eight victories coming consecutively.

Junior goalkeeper Hannah Clough (Acton, MA / Acton-Boxborough Regional) was outstanding making 15 saves for RPI, which concluded its opening weekend in New Jersey at 1-1. The Engineers defeated Ramapo 5-1 in its first game of 2013 on Friday.

Montclair State dominated RPI outshooting the Engineers 23-3 with the visitors held without a shot until the closing moments of the contest. The Red Hawks also out-cornered Rensselaer 16-2.

The Red Hawks would grab a 1-0 lead 12:05 into the contest on Hullings' first goal of the season. Off a penalty corner, Jennifer Tafro (Little Falls, NJ, Passaic Valley) fired a shot from the left side of the circle that Clough made a solid stop on. Unfortunately for RPI the ball rebounded to the other side of the goal where Hullings was able to poke it in for the 1-0 MSU lead.

From there Clough would stop the next 13 shots on goal by the Red Hawks until Lipsit added the insurance marker with 7:43 to play in the contest. The play began again with Tafro ripping a shot this time from the right side. The ball was blocked away by a defender but again the ball found its way to the other side with Lipsit, who had two assists in Friday's win at Eastern, banging in the loose ball for her first goal of the year.

Despite being held without a shot for the first 69 minutes, RPI nearly got a chance early in the second half as a ball from the right sideline found its way into the circle just in front of the goal. Freshman Molly Shanahan (Rye, NH / Phillips Exeter Academy) was unable to get a handle on the loose ball which was kicked away by Brattole and a follow up attempt by Claire Cecilio (San Jose, CA / Archbiship Mitty) also failed to materialize.

RPI got three chances in the final 47 seconds but attempts by Jen Piselli (Branford, CT / Hamden Hall Country Day School) and Cecilio each went wide while Brattole made a save on Catherine Mahoney's (Troy, NY / Emma Willard School) shot with 42 seconds to go.

Montclair State returns to action on Wednesday, September 4 hosting Muhlenberg College at Sprague Field beginning at 7:00 pm. Last season the Red Hawks fell to the Mules 2-1 in Allentown before embarking on its 20-game winning streak that led them to the NCAA Division III national championship game. RPI plays its home opener on the same day against Hartwick.