Box Score

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Sophomore Nathaniel Gunderson scored his first three collegiate goals and the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's soccer team came back from 2-0 deficit to defeat Skidmore College, 3-2, in overtime, in the Liberty League opener for both teams. With the win, the Engineers improve to 5-2 overall (1-0 Liberty), while the Thoroughbreds drop to 3-3-1 (0-1 Liberty).

Trailing 2-0 in the 38th minute, Gunderson (Olympia, WA/Tumwater) redirected a corner kick by senior Joey Eilert (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) into the side netting, to pull Rensselaer to within 2-1. Eilert's inswinger from the left was met by a glancing header from Gunderson, who placed the ball just inside the far post.

The Engineers continued to threaten the Skidmore goal throughout the second half, coming close to tying the game on a number of occasions. Senior Alex Dotseth (Colorado Springs, CO/Air Academy) sprung freshman Nick Revano (Metuchen, NJ/Hun School of Princeton) in on goal, but his shot skipped just wide of the net, in the 72nd minute. Gunderson nearly tied the game with a header in the 85th minute, but it skimmed off the top of the crossbar and out of play.

With 49 seconds left in regulation, Gunderson scored the equalizer, finishing off a low cross into the box by sophomore right back Paul Lentine (Penfield, NY/Penfield Senior).

A back and forth overtime period saw the Thoroughbreds record the first two shots on goal, but it was Rensselaer which found the back of the net in the 99th minute of play. Pressing the Skidmore back line, the Engineers forced a loose ball in the box that Gunderson pushed past the last defender and buried into the lower right corner of the net, to send visitors home with three points.

Skidmore opened the scoring in the eighth minute, when junior Brock Bakewell (Tucson, AZ/Salpointe Catholic) headed home a cross by classmate Adam Beek (Kingston, Jamaica, Kent School) to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.

Bakewell then netted his second of the game, and team-leading fifth of the season, in the 34th minute. Thoroughbreds sophomore Todd Jensen (Cambridge, MA/Cambridge Ringe & Latin) ripped a shot from 30 yards the caromed off the crossbar to Bakewell, who took a touch before slotting the ball past RPI junior goalkeeper Rob Dewald (Arlington, VA/Washington-Lee).

Dewald finished with three saves to earn the victory, while Skidmore Derrick Yam (Longmeadow, MA/Longmeadow) made two stops at the other end of the field.

The Engineers are back in action on Saturday, when they host Oneonta State at Renwyck Field (7pm).