Rensselaer, after squeaking past Skidmore 1-0 on Friday, needed to tie or beat Union to secure a playoff spot.

RPI battled the Dutchmen for two overtimes only to have their dreams crushed with one bounce of the ball. Union’s Chris Poey forced RPI to wait another week to possibly make the league playoffs as he headed home a perfect crossing pass from teammate Luke LaBella to defeat the Red Hawks 1-0 in double overtime.

“It was tough loss,” Rensselaer Head Coach Adam Clinton said. “Saturday was hard, but we are still very much alive.”

The win thrust Union into the third spot in league standings and dropped RPI into the precarious fourth position forcing a winner take all match up with travel partner Vassar this Saturday in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

“It’s a playoff game,” Rensselaer Head Coach Adam Clinton said of Saturday’s match up with Vassar. “I’ve told the guys all along we have to win two out of our last three [league] games to get in. The loss Saturday merely delays the inevitable: We will make the playoffs.”

Ironically, a tie Saturday would have secured both Union and Rensselaer a spot in the playoffs, but it was evident that an even score was on no one’s mind throughout the game.

The Red Hawks, who are now 7-5-3 overall and 3-3 in Liberty League games, had numerous scoring chances, the best of which came on a run created by Gary Sroka. The freshman outran the Union defense to a lofted pass, controlled the ball and fired a bullet on net. However, Dutchmen keeper Matt Mayerhofer just got his right leg on the ball to push it wide.

“The fact that we had so many good chances makes the loss harder to take,” Clinton, now is his third year as head coach, said.

Mayerhofer, who was named Liberty League Co-Defensive Player of the Week, ahead three saves. RPI goalie Nick Bochette also tallied three for RPI.

The Skidmore game was shorter but no less competitive as the Red Hawks had to battle for 90 minutes to secure the victory. The game’s only goal came on a penalty kick from Thomas Frost Anderson with 33 seconds to go in the half. The kick was the result of some excellent hustle by junior forward Craig DiDomenico, who out-hustled a Skidmore defender to the ball, and fired a shot from inside the penalty box that wound up striking the hand of a Thoroughbred.

“That goal was the result of a tremendous effort by Craig,” Clinton said. “The Skidmore players were content to give up on the half, but Craig played it out and made something happen.”

RPI out shot Skidmore 5-1 in the first half, but the Thoroughbreds controlled the second half, taking nine shots that sent Bochette scrambling on several occasions. Bochette made six saves in the game.

“We got outplayed in the second half,” Clinton said. “We forced Nick to make some big saves. He has been tremendous this season. I don’t know if he’ll get it, but he truly deserves some recognition this year.”

The Red Hawks are playing somewhat shorthanded after Frost Anderson and Dave Roberge were injuried. Jared Roy has filled in solidily for the Red Hawks.

RPI will play a hot St. John Fisher team, who has won seven of its last nine games, today at 4 pm in a non-league contest before taking on Vassar in a win-or-go-home battle Saturday. Wednesday’s game will be the last home game for the team’s seven seniors.

“The St. John Fisher game is an important game; we can’t overlook it,” Clinton said. “It will allow us to forget about Saturday, and not focus prematurely on Vassar.”

The Vassar game will certainly pose mental and physical challenges for the Red Hawks as they will be forced to adjust their play on Vassar’s smaller field.

“It’s tough because things get really claustrophobic out there,” Clinton admitted. “We just have to approach the game a little differently. This squad never quits. I have all the belief in the world we will get it done.