Box Score

TROY, N.Y. - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) jumped out to a 2-0 lead early in the first half and sophomore goalkeeper John Thibdeau (Altamont, NY/Bethlehem) made 11 saves as the Red Hawks held on to tie Keene State, 2-2, at Harkness Field.  With the tie, Rensselaer is now 6-5-2 overall while the Owls, the 18th-ranked team in the nation, is 9-1-2.

"It's a great result for us to play against the 18th-ranked team and hold our own," RPI head coach Adam Clinton said.  "It would have been nice to win but we battled.  I am proud of my guys."

Rensselaer got on the board just 11:31 into the game when freshman Mike Henzel (Niwot, CO/Niwot) let go a strong kick that went over the goalie's left shoulder.  Just five-and-a-half minutes later, RPI was the benefactor of an 'own goal' and the Red Hawks led 2-0.  Keene State cut the lead in half just nine minutes later when Mike Cooley (Northborough, MA/Algonquin) deflected a Pelse Mesa (Manchester, NH/Manchester) pass into the net.

The Owls got the equalizer at 73:06 when freshman Alex Horne (Harvard, MA/Bromfield) got around the goalie.

Thibdeau finished with six saves in the first half, four in the second and one in the second overtime for the tie.  Matt Caron (Amston, CT/RHAM), a senior, had five saves, including two in the first half and three in the second.