Introduction
Junior Craig DiDomenico picked up the 2004 soccer season right where he left off last year as the forward scored the game-tying goal with just minutes left in regulation, sending the Red Hawks to a 2-2 tie with Southern Maine the opening contest for both teams Saturday night in Clifton Park.
Rensselaer, who also defeated Potsdam 2-1 Sunday, relied heavily on DiDomenico last season.
The lighting quick 5-10, 170 pound forward lead the team with an impressive eight goals, and 18 points in 2003, and wasted little time in getting started again.
Senior Eric Jacob, who scored just two goals last season, netted the Red Hawks’ first goal of the season just 15 minutes into the contest.
Despite taking the early lead, RPI found themselves trailing late before DiDomenico chimed in with his heroics.
Both teams battled, but failed to find the net in two overtime periods.
Sunday against Potsdam, Rensselaer showed no signs of fatigue despite playing two extra sessions the night before, as they jumped out to another early lead on junior Ed Sellitto’s goal just 15 minutes into the game.
Minutes later, the charged Red Hawks tallied their second and final goal of the game as freshman Gary Sroka delivered a strike to classmate Sal Mangano for his first collegiate goal.
Rensselaer will be back in action next weekend in Schenectady, at the Union College Classic. The Red Hawks will face Mount St. Mary’s on Saturday and SUNY-New Paltz on Sunday. Both games begin at 2:30 pm.
LaBombard takes first
Senior Edward LaBombard pulled out a one-stroke win over the hometown favorite, Brad Bardon of St. Lawrence, bringing home the individual championship from the St. Lawrence University Invitational this weekend.
The medalist shot a two-under 70 at the St. Lawrence course and a 77 at Partridge Run for a total 147.
Despite LaBombard’s outstanding performance the Red Hawks 618 overall score landed them a distant fifth behind tournament champ Waterloo University of Ontario’s score of 601.
RPI takes back Invitational
Four of the last five years, Nazareth has taken the RPI Invitational from the home team, but this year, things are changing for the Rensselaer women’s tennis team.
The Red Hawks took five of six singles matches and won all three doubles contests, convincingly bringing back the tournament title to the host school.
Nazareth’s Kathryn Cross took the sixth singles flight to prevent a tourney sweep by RPI and bolster the defending champs to a disappointing second. Russell Sage, who finished in third, was blanked in tournament play.
