Box Score Box Score

PURCHASE, N.Y. – Senior Sean Fleury (Princeton, MA) scored two goals in the first 13 minutes as Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) earned a 3-0 victory over New York University (NYU) in game one of the 2009 Valiant Classic, held at a rainy GoValiants.com Field on Friday night.

Fleury, who did not have a goal in the first two matches of the year, provided all the offense his team would need on the Engineers' first two shots . The two goals were plenty of support for junior goaltender Alex Penny (Northport, NY), who made two saves to earn the victory – RPI's third consecutive shutout to begin 2009.

The Engineers struck first only 6:31 into the match on their first shot of the game. Sophomore Brad Shelofsky (Rochester, N.Y.) took a free kick from about 35 yards out and sent it inside the 6-yard box, where it was collected by Fleury. The senior forward turned toward goal and deposited it into the left-hand netting for the icebreaker.

Rensselaer doubled its lead just over six minutes later, and it was Fleury again that found the net off an unlikely play. Penny punted the ball from inside his box and sent it almost the length of the field, where Fleury was first to the ball. With NYU senior netminder Marek Urbanski (Burlingame, CA) charging toward him, Fleury chipped the ball over Urbanski and into the open net for his second of the night.

NYU attempted to regain control later in the half, as the Violets held the possession advantage for the final 15 minutes. However, the Violets attempted only two shots on goal in the opening half – compared to seven for RPI – and was held scoreless for the first 45 minutes of play.

The first good chance of the second half came from RPI, as Fleury earned a free kick from the left side of the penalty box. The shot by senior Michael Long (Hopkinton, NH) was put nicely toward the far corner but a diving stab by Urbanski punched the ball away from harm.

Neither team found many great opportunities in the second half, until Rensselaer put an exclamation point on the match with less than eight minutes remaining. A corner kick by Long was played into the box and found the head of senior Lincoln Field (Cantoocook, NH) at the top of the 6-yard box for his third score of the year.

For the match, RPI held a 13-4 edge in total shots and an 8-2 advantage in shots on target. The Engineers also took nine corner kicks to just one for the Violets.

RPI (3-0-0, 0-0-0 Liberty) and NYU (1-3-0, 0-0-0 UAA) both return to action in day two of the Valiant Classic on Saturday. The Engineers take on Drew University at 5 p.m. in the day's first match and the Violets take on host Manhattanville College in the nightcap at 7 p.m.