Box Score
Box Score

TROY, N.Y. - Sophomore goalkeeper Alex Penny (Northport, NY/Northport) was forced to make just two saves and two student-athletes scored as the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's soccer team defeated Rhode Island College (RIC), 2-0, to capture the 2008 Red Hawk Classic.  Rensselaer, which is now 2-0, won the title based on goal differential.

The homestanding Red Hawks opened the scoring with five minutes left in the first half when sophomore Blake Adams (Cedar Grove, NJ/Seton Hall Prep.) bent a right-footed shot around the wall and into the upper right hand corner of the net.  The kick was set up by freshman Andrew Tambasco (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa), who drew a foul at the edge of the 18-yard box.

Tambasco was involved in RPI's second goal as well when he won a ball inside the Rhode Island 18 and centered a cross to sophomore Bryce Hutchinson (Elverson, PA/Twin Valley), who scored into an empty net.

Penny finished with one save in each half to move his record to 2-0.  For RIC, freshman Justin O'Connor (North Kingston, RI/North Kingston) and junior Cory Rocha (Riverside, RI/Fatima) split time in goal.  O'Connor, who played the first half, made two saves while Rocha had one.

Rensselaer defeated #12 New Jersey City University (NJCU), 3-2, in the first round for a goal differential of three.  Union College was also 2-0, defeating RIC, 1-0, and NJCU, 2-1, for a goal differential of two.

RPI returns to action next Friday and Saturday in the Union College Classic.  RIC plays Tuesday at Gordon College (4pm).