Rensselaer men’s soccer Head Coach Adam Clinton insisted winning is never easy, but his team certainly made it appear that way, as the Red Hawks crushed Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 5-0 in a non-conference battle Saturday in North Adams, Mass.
Four different players scored goals for the Red Hawks, while three other players notched assists. Freshman Tim Wisner came off the bench to lead the RPI offense, netting the first two goals of his college career on just three shots.
Sophomores Gary Sroka and Sal Mangano stayed hot for RPI, also tallying a goal apiece, and freshman Max Melleo rounded out the scoring for Rensselaer with his second career goal. Seniors Joe Johnson, Stefano Bonissone, and Ed Sellitto all dished out assists for the Red Hawks.
“We played well,” Clinton stated simply. “Although I would have been very worried had we struggled.”
The Red Hawks were trying to gauge their performance based off MCLA’s 6-0 loss to Keene State. RPI will face a very solid Keene State team on October 12 at Harkness Field, and was hoping to use Saturday’s contest to compare themselves to the Owls.
“We came up one goal short,” Clinton said. “But it is ultimately tough to compare since we saw a different goaltender.”
Despite missing their mark by one, Clinton was thrilled with the offensive output the Red Hawks have displayed in their pre-conference schedule. Rensselaer has found the back of the net 16 times on 66 shots on goal this season while allowing just two goals—both of which came against in the team’s 2-1 loss to Manhattanville on September 7—in six games this season.
At the beginning of the season Clinton said 30 goals for the season should get the Red Hawks in the conference playoffs. RPI is already halfway to that mark before the beginning of Liberty League play. Clinton has been particularly delighted by Rensselaer offensive display given that Craig DiDomenico has really yet to explode.
“We are starting to finish better,” Clinton said. “I’m starting to think we have a solid group of scorers. The key will be how we battle through the down times, which always occur in sports.”
To eliminate or at least limit the Red Hawks’ “downs” this season, Clinton has decided to change the team’s defensive set up in an effort best utilize the talents of his team. RPI will be switching from a 4-4-2 to a 3-5-2 formation, which will solidify the midfield by adding sophomore Kevin Grammer to the starting line up and allow the talented Joe Johnson to roam the field at the sweeper position.
“This formation will simplify the game and allow the players to use their athletic ability,” Clinton said. “And the sweeper position fits right into Joe Johnson’s wheelhouse.”
RPI will have little time to adjust to its new alignment as they prepare for their Liberty League openers on Harkness Field this Friday at 4 pm against Union and Saturday at 2 pm versus Skidmore.
“The pressure and the intensity go up a notch,” Clinton said regarding the beginning of league play. “League games are the most important. Every win, every goal counts a lot more.”
And with Rensselaer opening their Liberty League schedule against arch-rival Union, the intensity level is sure to rise to a whole new level.
“The Union game is always a little more intense,” Clinton said. “But it is more important to win these two games this weekend because we have to take advantage of our few home games.”
This weekend’s two league home games, which will be RPI’s only conference home games of the season, will start what Clinton called the “meat” of Rensselaer’s schedule. In addition to the always intense Liberty League contests, the Red Hawks will also have to face two very difficult non-conference opponents in Plattsburgh State and Keene State in the coming weeks.
“A key for us will be how we handle the travel,” Clinton admitted. “The surfaces within the league are good, so for us, it will be more mental.”
Given RPI’s limited number of home contests and Union fans’ reputation of traveling well, Clinton is asking all Rensselaer students to come out and support his team this weekend.
“Having a big crowd is huge,” Clinton said. “I can’t really state how great it is. It really helps our intensity and the noise gives us a big advantage.”
