Box Score

TROY, N.Y. – Hamilton College broke a 2-2 halftime tie with a goal at 69:11 and the Continentals added another 20 minutes later to defeat the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men’s soccer team, 4-2, in the Liberty League opener for both teams. With the victory the Continentals improve to 3-1-1 overall while the Red Hawks are now 4-3-0.

Hamilton opened the scoring at 10:01 of the first half, when sophomore Max Akuamoah-Boateng (Syracuse, NY/William Nottingham) converted a pass from senior Bob Barrowman (Glenmont, NY/Bethlehem) for a goal. The Continentals added to their lead less than ten minutes later on a goal by Greg Rogan (Cork, Ireland/South Kent School). Rogan intercepted the ball from an RPI defender before putting a shot past Rensselaer goalie John Thibdeau (Altamont, NY/Bethlehem).

The Red Hawks pulled within a goal just over a minute later when junior Gary Sroka (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) tallied at the 19:59 mark. Classmate Aaron Gundle (Portland, OR/Lincoln) passed the ball across the front of the net to Sroka, who converted the elevated pass for the goal. Rensselaer’s second goal of the match came on an own goal on a corner kick at 22:22. Freshman Travis Connell (Leavenworth, KS/Leavenworth) took the corner, which sailed into a sea of players. Classmate Lincoln Field (Warren, NH/Hopkinton) got a knee on the ball, which ricocheted off a Hamilton defender and the crossbar before trickling in.

Senior Greg Scott (Harvard, MA/The Bromfield School) scored unassisted mid-way through the second half for what proved to be the game-winner when he corralled a loose ball for a wide open shot at the net to give Hamilton the 3-2 lead. Senior Ian Hildebrand (Wilmette, IL/New Trier Township) sealed the victory for the Continentals, heading the ball past Thibdeau with less than two minutes remaining.

Sophomore goalie Anthony Carello (East Syracuse, NY/East Syracuse-Minoa) made eight saves in the win for Hamilton, while Thibdeau registered three saves in defeat.

Rensselaer returns to action on Saturday afternoon against #16 Hobart at Harkness Field (1pm). Hamilton heads to Vassar for a match against the Brewers (1pm). Both games are Liberty League contests.