The RPI men’s soccer team entered an important week in which it was looking to earn points in league play, whether with a pair of wins or even ties in an attempt to make a push in the season’s final stretch. The men were coming off of a tie with Keene State College and a win over Vassar College. This week’s task were home games with Skidmore College on Saturday and Union College on Sunday.
Against Skidmore, the hard-fought battle began right from the game’s opening minutes. In the opening frame, the Red Hawks outshot the Thoroughbreds 6-2. Both teams were tied in corner kicks, 1-1, and fouls seven to seven.
The difference in the game came midway through the first half. Senior Ty Thiele was able to score for Skidmore, putting a shot over Rensselaer freshman goalie Alex Penny to give his team a 1-0 lead. That would be the margin headed into the half as neither team was able to create any other scoring opportunities.
In the second half the tone was very similar. Both defenses continued to perform well and limit opportunities on goal. RPI was again ahead in shot attempts, 4-2, but could not capitalize on any of its few chances to score. Sophomore Michael Long sent a shot off the crossbar from 15 yards out on one occasion late in the half, and junior Tim Wisner’s header sailed high over the net in the 80th minute.
The game clock continued to tick away, and ultimately Rensselaer ran out of time, falling 1-0 at the end of regulation. With the victory, Skidmore improved to 4-6-5 overall while RPI dropped to 6-5-3.
Sunday versus rival Union, things didn’t get any easier as the game proved to be another fight with both teams trying to gain ground in the Liberty League. The Dutchmen came into the game with an impressive record of 10-2-2, but the feisty Red Hawks gave it everything they had.
In the first half there was no goal scoring, but the action was tense throughout. RPI again outshot its opponent, 8-3 through the first 45 minutes. Senior Gary Sroka had a legitimate opportunity, corralling a cross and blasting a shot on goal, but his effort was extinguished by Dutchmen junior goalie Rob Kramer. Kramer made three stops in the first half. Nonetheless the score remained knotted up at one as both teams headed into the intermission.
When play resumed, it was more of the same. Both squads battled as they tried to get any kind of advantage they could, but the stalemate continued. In the second, Union had more shots, five compared to RPI’s three. Rensselaer held a 4-2 advantage in corner kicks, but committed more fouls, 9-5, yet neither team was able to score causing the game to head into overtime.
Unfortunately, a winner still could not be determined even after two extra periods and the game ended in a 0-0 tie. Each team managed a single shot; junior Lincoln Fields’ attempt for Rensselaer was unsuccessful, as was Jack Scott’s for the Dutchmen.
After an exhausting day, all that can be said was that RPI outshot Union 14-9, held a 7-5 advantage in corner kicks, and both squads committed 19 fouls. Penny made two saves for the Red Hawks while Kramer made four for the Dutchmen. Union now stands at 10-2-3 on the season.
So it all comes down to this for the Rensselaer men. With just two games remaining and a record of 6-5-4 on the year and 2-3-2 in Liberty League play, the stress to win becomes greater than ever. Head Coach Adam Clinton and company will square off with Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts on Wednesday at 3 pm, on the road. From there, they will return to Harkness Field for their home season finale with Oneonta State Saturday at 6 pm.
