Box Score
Box Score

TROY, N.Y. – Powered by a pair of second half goals, the sixth-ranked Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's soccer team defeated Skidmore College, 2-1, in Liberty League action on Saturday. The Engineers improve to 9-1-1 with a 3-1-0 conference mark, while the Thoroughbreds fall to 4-6-0 and 1-3-0 in the Liberty League.

Tom Kelly (Shrewsbury, England/Shrewsbury School) put Rensselaer on the scoreboard early in the second half, tallying his fourth goal of the season in the 53rd minute. Senior Sean Fleury (Princeton, MA/Wachusett Regional) earned the assist after he carried the ball up the left side, battled around a defender near the edge of the box and sent it to Kelly in the middle from six-yards out.

The Engineers gained a two-goal advantage less than six minutes later after senior Lincoln Field (Contoocook, NH/Hopkinton) pushed the ball down the right side near the goal line and crossed it back to the middle. Classmate Michael Long (Hopkinton, NH/Hopkinton) was there and put the ball in off his knee for the 59th minute tally.

Skidmore pulled to within a goal on a chip-shot by junior Greg Lloyd (Allendale, NJ/Northern Highlands) in the 79th minute. He took a pass from Gabe Zieff (Corte Madera, CA/Redwood) on the left side of the 18 and beat keeper Alex Penny (Northport, NY/Northport) just under the crossbar.

A defensive tone was established through the first 45 minutes as the teams played to a scoreless first half. There were a number of chances on both sides with Rensselaer holding a 5-2 edge in shots.

Lloyd had the Thoroughbreds best opportunity in the half after he corralled a pass and one-timed it at the RPI net. Penny made the sliding save.

Field nearly put the Engineers on the board in the 33rd minute with his fourth penalty kick opportunity of the year. Field had a good beat on Skidmore goalie Nick Peterson (West Hartford, CT/Hall), but his shot went wide right and banged off the post.

Penny picked up his eighth win of the season, stopping four shots to improve to 8-1-1 overall. Peterson made seven saves and is now 4-6-0.

Rensselaer finished with the advantage in shots, 14-8, and had one corner kick, while Skidmore had none.

The Engineers return to action on Wednesday evening in their final regular season home contest against Keene State (6:30pm) on Renwyck Field. Skidmore is also in action on Wednesday when it travels to the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (3:30pm).