For the third straight week the Rensselaer men’s soccer team took on a nationally ranked opponent, and for third straight game their efforts earned them a loss, as the Red Hawks hobbled back to Troy late Wednesday after 15th ranked Keene State demolished RPI 5-1 in a discomforting non-conference loss Wednesday.
After falling behind 2-0 in the first half, Nick Ruggio, last weekend’s hero against Hobart, scored Rensselaer’s only goal at the 51 minute mark making it 2-1 early in the second half.
However, Keene State quickly ended all hopes of a Red Hawk comeback as they scored a goal 32 seconds later to push the lead back up to two. Keene State would add two more insurance goals late in the game.
Goaltender Nick Bochette, who gave up all five goals, was pulled after making just three saves on eight shots on goal. Greg Goehle played solid in several minutes of relief.
This was the most embarrassing loss RPI suffered all season as they had yet to lose a game by more than one goal. Rensselaer played well against the other two nationally-ranked opponents they faced, St. Lawrence and Plattsburgh State, losing 1-0 and 3-2 respectively.
Rensselaer, who was off from Liberty League action this weekend, will have to bear the bitter taste of defeat as they wait until this weekend to renew their Liberty League schedule.
Despite the difficult loss RPI can still clinch a league playoff berth by winning on the road against local rivals Skidmore and Union, two of the league’s lower caliber teams.
Should Rensselaer complete the weekend sweep, something they have failed to do all year, they will reach the playoffs for the first time since 1998. If RPI falls to either team this weekend they will have to beat Vassar in their final league game the following week to advance while two losses this weekend would all but eliminate the team from the playoffs.
The Red Hawks play in Saratoga, Friday at 4 pm and in Schenectady on Saturday at 2 pm.
