It was hard for the Rensselaer men’s soccer team to imagine playing a playoff game the first weekend in October, but after garnering only one point in the team’s first two Liberty League games on September 23 and 24, reality had confronted the Red Hawks, as they entered their lone conference game this Saturday against travel partner Vassar in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
With their season staring them right in face, RPI responded with an impressive 2-0 win, ending its three-game winless streak.
“It was a massive win for us,” Rensselaer Head Coach Adam Clinton said after the game. “We played very well and responded with a lot of energy, executing our game plan to a ‘T.’”
RPI’s overall effectiveness and resolve was a pleasant surprise to Clinton, who admitted he was concerned about his team’s confidence after the Red Hawks dropped a 5-1 decision at Harkness Field on Wednesday, September 28, to Plattsburgh State. The game was closer than the scoreboard indicated, but the Cardinals capitalized on every Rensselaer mistake.
Plattsburgh tallied goals from four different players in the contest, including two from Brandon Gilkes. Rensselaer junior midfielder Scott Owens scored RPI’s only goal off an assist from senior forward Craig DiDomenico.
“I was extremely displeased with the result,” Clinton said. “But we were never fully out of the game. They punished us on every mistake we made.”
Against Vassar, Rensselaer minimized their mistakes, and managed to recover after rare miscues. According to Clinton, the Red Hawks did a masterful job neutralizing the Brewers’ outstanding midfield while also attacking their weak outside defensive backs.
“We did a great job getting the ball behind their outside backers,” Clinton said. “Once we started getting the ball behind them, we caused them all sorts of trouble.”
Rensselaer’s offensive strategy clicked early as freshman midfielder Tim Wisner sent the ball deep over the defensive backs toward a sprinting Mike Henzel. The freshman forward quickly gathered the pass and, finding himself one-on-one with the keeper, fired a shot past a helpless Jason Cetel eight minutes into the game.
“An early goal always helps, especially on the road,” Clinton, now in his fourth season as RPI’s head coach, said.
Rensselaer’s freshmen have played particularly well of late. Henzel and Wisner have become constant scoring threats and freshman defensive backer Brandon LeFevre contributed heavily in the absence of sophomore Kevin Grammer, who was forced to sit out the game due to a red card he acquired in the Plattsburgh State game.
“We were forced to juggle people,” Clinton said with Grammer being out. “Tim and Mike have been doing a great job for us wherever they are, and Brandon played fantastic. He proved he is ready to see more playing time and will help add some depth to our midfield.”
In the second half, with the score still 1-0 Red Hawks, Vassar made a determined charge as Rensselaer struggled to maintain possession of the ball. RPI committed countless turnovers in the midfield, which led to five Brewer shots, one of which hit the crossbar, in a 20-minute stretch. Rensselaer’s goaltender proved up to the challenge making seven second half saves, and eight total in the game.
“They put us under a lot of pressure,” Clinton said. “We continuously turned the ball over in the midfield. We were fortunate they failed to take advantage.”
Sophomore midfielder Gary Sroka closed the door on Vassar’s fiery run with a laser from 25 yards out that found nylon with under 10 minutes remaining in the contest. Both Henzel and Sroka tallied their third scores of the year while Wisner delivered his second assist of the season.
The win gives Rensselaer four points and moves them into a three-way tie with Skidmore and Hamilton for third in the league standings. The win also places them ahead of both Hobart and Clarkson.
“We are right back in the thick of things in the league,” Clinton said. “We now control our destiny.”
Rensselaer will test their fate this weekend when they travel to the North Country to battle an improved Clarkson squad on Friday, and the defending Liberty League champion, St. Lawrence, on Saturday. Clinton, however, is heading into the weekend thinking sweep. The Golden Knights are dangerous, but beatable, and the Saints look vulnerable for the first time in an “eon,” already tying one conference game.
“The Clarkson game is scary,” Clinton said of the Golden Knights, which beat a talented Hobart team earlier in the season. “It is the most important game because we can’t sweep without winning Friday.”
