Box Score Box Score

TROY, N.Y. – Senior goalkeeper Alex Penny (Northport, NY/Northport) stopped all five shots he faced as the Rensselaer men's soccer team played to a 0-0 tie with SUNY New Paltz, this evening at East Campus Stadium. With the draw, the Engineers move to 8-4-4 overall, while Hawks conclude their season with an 8-9-1 mark.

An evenly played contest saw both sides generate scoring chances throughout. RPI sophomore Zach Fane (Troy, NY/Lansingburgh) slipped a ball to junior Julian Coy (Bristow, VA/Brentsville District) at the top of the box, but his shot floated high and wide of the target in the 17th minute. Seven minutes later, Hawks' junior striker Evan Martel (West Sayville, NY/Sayville) bounced a shot wide of the frame off a cross from classmate Jimmy Altadonna (Massapequa Park, NY/Massapequa).

Rensselaer freshman Alex Dotseth (Colorado Springs, CO/Air Academy) recorded one of his two scoring chances in the 40th minute, when his skimming header went high and wide of the New Paltz goal. The Hawks came back the other way with an opportunity two minutes later, but junior Stephen Bafumi's (Meriden, CT/Francis T. Maloney) shot from 35 yards out was handled easily by Penny.

Engineers' sophomore midfielder Adam Updegrove (Carson City, NV/Carson) opened the second half with a strong run to the top of the New Paltz penalty area, before firing a left-footed shot went wide. An RPI free-kick, taken by senior Ben Poser (Scotts Valley, CA/Scotts Valley), was stuck well, but right into the wall in the 63rd minute.

Senior Dave Gardiner (Malta, NY/Ballston Spa) came up with another shot from distance for the visitors in the 66th minute, but Penny was equal to the challenge once again.

In the 77th minute, RPI turned a loose ball into one of the best scoring chances of regulation, as freshman Ryan Gracy (West Oneonta, NY/Oneonta) went into a tackle with New Paltz freshman goalie Conor Power (White Plains, NY/Archbishop Stepinac) at the top of the box. The ball popped free to Updegrove, but his volley went wide right.

The Hawks had a chance in closing minutes of regulation, as a through ball got behind the Rensselaer defense, but Penny flew off his line to smother the play at the top of his 18.

In the extra session, Dotseth re-directed a cross by Updegrove just wide of the right bar in the 100th minute. The Hawks made a strong bid for the game-winning tally in the 105th minute, linking well into the offensive third, but senior Frank Tloczkowski's (New Hyde Park, NY/New Hyde Park Memorial) shot from near the penalty spot was blocked out for a corner by RPI junior Brad Shelofsky (Rochester, NY/Greece Athena).

Penny (8-4-4) made five saves to earn his eighth shutout of the season. Power (3-3-1) came up with three stops.

The Engineers are back in action on Saturday, when they host Vassar in the Liberty League finale for both sides at Renwyck Field (2pm).