TROY, NY – Casey Ftorek’s (Bedford, MA/Taft) goal mid-way through the second half lifted the Union College men’s soccer team to a 1-0 win over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in the Liberty League opener for both teams.  The Dutchmen improve to 1-0 in league and 5-1-1 overall, while the Red Hawks fall to 0-1 and 5-2-0.

Ftorek, a junior, scored the goal at 69:26 after receiving a long pass in the left corner, fighting by two defenders and scoring past goalie Nick Bochette (Schaghticoke, NY/Hoosic Valley) from just outside the box.

“It was a typical RPI-Union match,” said head coach Adam Clinton.  “It was a hard-fought, physical game and they got a hard-earned goal.”

Rensselaer had several chances to even the score in the second half, including a header by freshman forward Mike Henzel (Niwot, CO/Niwot), which was tipped by Union keeper Rob Kramer (Westport, NY/Staples) and bounced off the cross-bar.

Kramer, a freshman, made four saves while Bochette, who is a junior, also stopped four shots.

Rensselaer returns to action on Saturday at 2pm when it hosts Liberty League opponent Skidmore College at Harkness Field.  Union is also back in action on Saturday at 2pm when they travel to Poughkeepsie, N.Y., to take on Vassar College.