Box Score Box Score

TROY, N.Y. – Senior midfielder Ben Poser (Scotts Valley, CA/Scotts Valley) drilled home a free kick from the edge of the penalty area to lead the Rensselaer men's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over Hobart College, this afternoon at Renwyck Field. With the win, the Engineers improve to 5-3-2 overall (2-1-1 Liberty League), while the Statesmen fall to 6-4-2 (0-3-1 Liberty League).

Rensselaer earned the free kick after Hobart junior goalkeeper Charlie Hale (Winchester, MA/Winchester) inadvertently picked up the ball a step outside his penalty area. Poser then buried a shot that ricocheted off the crossbar and in behind Hale. The goal was Poser's second of the season, bringing him into a tie for the team lead.

The eventual game-winning tally came just five minutes after the Statesmen were reduced to 10 men on a second yellow card issued to freshman left back Kaeghan Kelly (Watertown, MA/Buckingham Browne & Nichols).

Hobart could only muster one shot over the final 16 minutes as the Engineers were able to hold on for the win.

The most dangerous first opportunity came in the 12th minute, when Poser took a centering pass from sophomore Adam Updegrove (Carson City, NV/Carson) and fired from 25 yards out, but Hale was there for the diving save.

An evenly played first 45 minutes saw visitors hold a 5-3 shots advantage, including a 4-1 edge in shots on goal. All four of those shots came in a four-minute flurry, in which RPI senior netminder Alex Penny (Northport, NY/Northport) was able to hold his own between the sticks, stopping them all.

The Engineers generated two late first-half shot attempts by junior Andrew Tambasco (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) and) Updegrove, but both of their tries were off the mark.

In the second stanza, RPI continued to apply pressure through the midfield as it created a number of scoring chances. Held without a corner kick in the opening frame, the Engineers finished with a 5-4 advantage in corners taken, and a 13-8 edge in shots.

Penny (5-3-2) and Hale (5-2-2) each finished with four saves.

Rensselaer is back in action on Wednesday, when it visits Keene State for a non-league contest (6:30pm). Hobart hosts Ithaca on Wednesday (4pm).