Box Score

TROY, N.Y. - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) opened the home portion of its 2012 schedule with a scoreless draw against Ithaca College in a non-league game at the ECAV Stadium. RPI is now 2-0-1 and the Bombers are 1-1-1.

Ithaca had a solid scoring opportunity at 24:31of the first half when sophomore Tim Goldman (Fayetteveille, NY/Manlius-Pebble Hill) took a free kick from 20 yards out that found its way through the RPI wall and toward the right side of the net. Rensselaer goalkeeper Rob Dewald (Arlington, VA/Washington-Lee) tracked the shot, however, and punched the ball out of danger.

The Engineers had a strong bid 25 minutes into the second half when senior Michael Birk (Albertson, NY/Mineola) had the ball near the goal line on the right side of the box and saw his shot skim off the goal post and across the crease to the other side of the field, where it was cleared out. RPI went on to control play for the better part of the half but could not tally.

Rensselaer had several outstanding opportunities in the second overtime, the first by Birk from just outside the 18-yard box that went high. An even better chance was had by sophomore Matt Koziol (Poughkeepsie, NY/F.D. Roosevelt), but his shot from two steps inside the box sailed high. The Engineers then had a flurry of pressure in the final 30 seconds, including a corner kick with 10 seconds remaining, to no avail.

Dewald finished with one save and Ithaca's Jordan Gentile (Syracuse, NY/Manlius-Pebble Hill) stopped two shots on the other end.

The Engineers, who host Swarthmore on Saturday at 2pm, had an advantage in both shots (10-3) and corner kicks (6-2) in the contest. Ithaca is back on the field on Saturday when it hosts Muhlenberg at 1pm at Carp Wood Field.