After losing 3-2 to a beatable Elmira team on Saturday, the Red Hawks came back to Harkness Field on Monday and convincingly defeated the third ranked team in the state and the nineteenth ranked team in the country, Plattsburgh State, by a score of 4-1.

In the loss to Elmira mental mistakes cost the Red Hawks early.

“The last thing I told the team before we went out to play was ‘don’t play with the ball in the back, don’t take any chances until we get into the game,’” said Rensselaer men’s soccer Coach Adam Clinton.

Unfortunately for Clinton and RPI, his players did the exact opposite, and turned over the ball deep in their own end giving Elmira an easy goal and a very early one goal lead.

The Red Hawks then fell mentally asleep twice more allowing Elmira to get behind the defense for effortless goals leaving Rensselaer down 3-0 less than 15 minutes into the game.

“We got flustered after giving up that early goal,” commented Clinton. “Then we started attacking and trying too hard to get it back.”

However, once Elmira got their third goal, Rensselaer began to take over the game.

The Red Hawks scored two goals in the first 15 minutes of the second half to close the gap to one goal.

Yet, despite out shooting Elmira 31-7 Rensselaer was unable to score the needed third goal.

“We should have won the game,” said Clinton. “We gave the game away.”

However, the Red Hawks had little time to focus on their shortcomings, as they had only one day to prepare for national- and state-ranked Plattsburgh State.

“We discussed our lack of concentration and the need to be focused early in games,” said Clinton. “We trained hard and made some line up changes.”

The changes including moving the team’s leading goal scorer, Craig DiDomenico, from forward to midfield, and starting freshman Nick Blanchard instead of sophomore Greg Goehle at goaltender.

“We needed a change,” admitted Clinton. “The losses are not all Greg’s fault and he will get another chance this season.”

Rensselaer appeared to be a completely different team Monday night against Plattsburgh as they came out and jumped on the Cardinals early.

The Red Hawks’ scored their first goal less than 10 minutes into the first half, as Brian Tarpill sent a crossing pass in front of the net which was quickly handled and knocked in by DiDomenico.

Plattsburgh scored their lone goal with about 10 minutes left in the first half as Tim Stanley took a shot which deflected off an RPI defender and bounced into the net.

With just five minutes left in the first half, Ed Sellitto took a perfect from Nick Tsafos and drilled a shot past the Cardinal goalie to give Rensselaer the 2-1 lead at half time.

In the second half, the Red Hawks controlled the ball and the Rensselaer defense did a great job taking away Plattsburgh State’s scoring chances.

Blanchard had six spectacular saves adding another solid element to what was a suspect Red Hawks defense.

“I’m happy with the performance of the back four,” said Clinton. “They controlled the entire game and really made it a lot easier on Nick.”

Teamwork was the key to Rensselaer’s offensive attack.

Chris Bohern scored his goal in similar fashion to Sellitto as he took a breakaway pass from Eric Jacob and punched it in.

The Red Hawks’ scoring was rounded out by Taylor Benjamin’s goal on a direct kick from just outside the goal box.

“We stay organized,” commented Clinton. “We kept possession of the ball when we could and gave it up when we had too. There is no reason why a team that is averaging as many goals as us should have four losses.”

Besides getting the Red Hawks back up to .500 on the season (4-4, 0-2), the win against Plattsburgh gives the team something they have been somewhat lacking all season—confidence.

“This win will give us something to build on,” said Clinton. “Now we know how good we can be, we can be a nationally ranked opponent, but now we have to start playing that way consistently.” And The Red Hawks cannot be complacent even after such a big win.

With most of a very grueling conference schedule still ahead and Rensselaer already in an 0-2 hole, the Red Hawks will have to continue to play well in order to reach the UCAA playoffs.

“We cannot be satisfied with where we are,” confirmed Clinton. “We have to keep working to improve our skills.”