Fantastic performances against nationally ranked Plattsburgh State and St. John Fisher were followed by mediocre displays versus Elmira and Vassar that left the team suffering from stomach aliments that even Pepto Bismol could not cure.

However, Head Coach Adam Clinton and the Red Hawks can apparently clear out the medicine cabinet, as a refurbished Rensselaer squad has been nothing but consistently good this season.

RPI, which currently stands at 3-0-1, has already brought home some hardware in 2004, taking the championship trophies in both the Clifton Park Tournament and the Union College Classic.

Junior Craig DiDomenico, who has three goals, including a game-winner and a game-tying goal, has led an RPI scoring barrage. The Red Hawks, a squad filled with new scoring threats and stronger defense, have outscored opponents 12-4 in their first four games.

Freshmen Mike Holihan and Sal Mangano have scored a combined five goals while junior captain Ed Sellitto and senior Eric Jacob have tallied one apiece.

The nine freshmen, two transfers, and one foreign exchange student have done more than just bolster the team’s performance on the field.

“The influx of new talent has added to the competition for spots which makes training more competitive,” Clinton said. “The training sessions are very competitive for the first time since I’ve been here. I can put 22 players on the field and the practice games are competitive, fast, and hard.”

This competitiveness has already translated into results, as players are now not just fighting for playing time but for a spot on the roster.

“I have 31 players and 25 jerseys, so for the first time in my three years, the bench is actually a motivator,” Clinton said. “Nobody wants to be on it, and at the same time they want to get to the bench. So we have a couple different dynamics working for us there.”

While Rensselaer has certainly had little trouble finding their challengers’ nets, their adversaries have struggled in getting the ball past new goaltender Nick Bochette.

Bochette is a Division I transfer whose presence in net significantly strengthens a Rensselaer defense that was often over-worked and was forced to rely heavily on All-UCAA First Team selection and junior captain Joe Johnson.

Clinton has seen how solid his defense can be, but is still dissatisfied despite the fact has been peppered with just 23 shots and given up just four goals in four games.

“We have given away three goals, all three of which are bad goals,” Clinton said. “That is what I don’t like. We just need to put teams away, and because we have some youth on the team, those are things we’re going to learn with time.”

Transfer graduate student Thomas Anderson of Denmark should be able to bring some more experience to an already diverse squad.

Clinton expects Anderson, who will only be at Rensselaer for the semester, to be one of the team’s best overall players, as he adds depth to an increasingly improved midfield.

However, despite all the positives surrounding the men’s soccer team, one fact still remains; they have to win.

The Red Hawks’ 1-9 record in UCAA (now Liberty League) play earned them a spot in the cellar last season and Clinton and his team know they must improve their standing.

“We finished last in the league last year, so until we do better, that’s where we are,” Clinton said. “The league is very difficult. That’s where we have to improve the most, but I’m very optimistic right now. I personally think we may be the surprise of the league.

“We are better than we were; now we have to go out and prove it.”