Box Score

TROY, N.Y. – Sophomore Nathaniel Gunderson scored an early first half goal to lead the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over Hobart College, this afternoon, in Liberty League action from East Campus Stadium. With the win, the Engineers improve to 9-4 overall (5-1 Liberty), while the Statesmen drop to 7-6-1 (1-3-1 Liberty).

Rensselaer struck for the game's only goal in the ninth minute after a low cross by senior Alex Dotseth (Colorado Springs, CO/Air Academy) was finished by Gunderson (Olympia, WA/Tumwater) inside the six. The tally, which was his fourth of the season, was also assisted by senior Joey Eilert (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley), who redirected the cross inside the penalty area.

Neither side posed much of a threat at the opposing goal for the remainder of the half as the Engineers took a 9-1 shots advantage to the break. Rensselaer also attempted half of its six corner kicks in the opening 45 minutes.

The second half provided little in the way of scoring chances for either team, as the visitors out-shot RPI, 4-2. The Statesmen were only able to challenge junior goalkeeper Rob Dewald (Arlington, VA/Washington-Lee) once, however, on a 72nd minute attempt by sophomore Marco Ronning (Stockholm, Sweden/Wittra Soderuralm).

Hobart's best chance to tie the game came seven minutes earlier, when a free kick taken five yards from the right corner flag found the head of sophomore Zico Gaeffke (Haverford, PA/Harriton School) at the back post. His header sailed high and wide of the target in the 65th minute.

Dewald (9-3) recorded one save to earn his fifth shutout of the season, while Statesmen junior Mike Lucas (Pittsburgh, PA/Fox Chapel Area) was forced to make two stops in defeat.

The Engineers are back in action tomorrow afternoon, when they host RIT at Renwyck Field (2pm). Hobart visits Skidmore tomorrow (2pm).