Unlike most students at RPI this weekekend, the RPI men’s soccer team spent the majority of the long break working. But winning their first two games and the Second Annual Red-Hawks-Dutchmen Men’s Soccer Classic trophy over rival Union was certainly worth the Red Hawks’ effort.
“It is always nice to win something and deny Union from getting it,” Rensselaer Men’s Coach Adam Clinton said.
The Red Hawks went undefeated in the round-robin tournament. RPI snuck past SUNYIT 1-0 Friday evening in front of a raucous crowd at Harkness Field and demolished Southern Maine 3-0 Sunday afternoon on Harkness Field to clinch the title after Union lost to Southern Maine Friday night.
“It turned out to be a pretty good weekend,” Clinton said. “The weather was good, I got to spend Monday with my kids, and we won two games.”
The only individuals on vacation this weekend were the RPI goaltenders, as the Red Hawks were next to flawless on defense, posting two shutouts and allowing just seven shots on goal over the entire weekend.
Rensselaer’s current defensive backfield has been together for two years and has continued to get better. Freshman midfielder Peter Murrer and junior midfielder Colin Donahoe both played well this weekend to further solidify an already-stout security blanket in front of the RPI net.
The Rensselaer defense did receive some scary news as junior goaltender Nick Bochette was forced to leave the SUNYIT contest with just 30 minutes remaining and the game all square at 0-0 after aggravating a chronic hamstring injury.
Clinton admitted he never likes to change goalies late in a close game, which hints Bochette’s injury could be severe. With Bochette at best day-to-day, sophomore John Thibdeau filled in nicely in net for the Red Hawks by not allowing a goal, but saw only two shots in two games.
“I’m confident with both our goaltenders,” Clinton said. “They allow our defense to be more aggressive and take chances.”
While the Red Hawks defense did its job, the RPI offense also found a way to accomplish its task, although it was not always pretty.
Rensselaer’s lone goal in the SUNYIT game came after the Wildcat goalie fumbled a rocket shot off the foot of senior forward Craig DiDomenico. With the ball loose in front of the net, a chaotic scramble ensued and eventually Rensselaer sophomore Sal Mangano emerged with possession and poked home the game’s lone goal.
The goal was sweet redemption for Mangano, who earlier in the game had missed an open net. RPI put 10 shots on net against the Wildcats and were much more impressive the following day against Southern Maine.
The Red Hawks, after making some halftime adjustments, netted three second half goals and fired 14 shots on goals against the visitors. Mangano tallied his second marker of the season in the contest while DiDomenico and freshman forward Max Molleo scored their first goals of the young season. Sophomore forward Louis Martinelli also earned assist in the game.
“The attacking side always takes a little to come around,” Clinton said of his team’s early struggles on offense. “We had a lot of chances, we didn’t get frustrated when things didn’t go our way, and we stuck with it.”
The Rensselaer Head Coach was particularly pleased with the performances he got from sophomore midfielder Kevin Grammer, senior midfielder Ed Sellitto—who did a solid job advancing the ball in the offensive zone—and obviously Mangano.
“I was happy for Sal,” Clinton said. “He’s been struggling in the preseason, so getting two quick goals may loosen him up a bit for the rest of the year.”
The Red Hawks will have little time to enjoy their victories as they have to travel to Manhattanville for a game Wednesday night against the Valiants before bussing over to Schenectady, N.Y., to participate in the Union College Classic this weekend.
RPI will face an improving Mount St. Mary’s team Saturday afternoon before taking on a highly competitive SUNY New Paltz squad Sunday. RPI has never won the Union College Classic in Clinton’s four-year tenure, but that is something he hopes to rectify this weekend.
