Box Score | Liberty League Page

TROY, N.Y. – Junior Matt Carberry curled home the game-winning goal in the 106th minute to lead the 14th-ranked Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over Skidmore College, in the Liberty League opener for both teams, at East Campus Stadium. With the win, the Engineers improve to 6-0-1 (1-0), while the Thoroughbreds drop to 4-3 (0-1).
 
Midway through the second overtime period, junior Nathaniel Gunderson (Olympia, WA/Tumwater) broke into the Skidmore penalty area from the left flank. He found sophomore Vito Mesiti (Slingerlands, NY/Guilderland) in the middle of the box, who then linked up with Carberry (Auburn, NY/Auburn) for the game-ending tally. Carberry collected the pass from Mesiti and curled a right-footed shot just inside the right post for his second goal of the season.
 
The Engineers created some early first half chances, but were unable to capitalize. Junior left back Paul Lentine (Penfield, NY/Penfield Senior) provided solid service off a handful of free kicks and corners.
 
Skidmore came away with its only shot on goal in the 28th minute, when senior Adam Beek (Kingston, Jamaica/Kent School) drilled a set piece from 35 yards directly into the arms of RPI senior goalkeeper Rob Dewald (Arlington, VA/Washington-Lee).
 
Rensselaer had a pair of late first half opportunities, but were unable to sneak one past Thoroughbreds junior keeper Eli Kisselbach (Stamford, CT/Westhill), who made five of his eight saves in the opening stanza.
 
Carberry nearly gave the hosts the lead in the 50th minute, when he got on the end of a Gunderson cross, but his shot sailed over the net. Five minutes later, classmate Brett Pyser (Easthampton, MA/Williston Northampton) redirected a Lentine corner kick just wide with a header.
 
The game remained scoreless through regulation, with RPI holding a 17-9 edge in shots. In the 99th minute, Mesiti had a chance to win the game, but his point-blank shot was denied by Kisselbach.
 
Dewald (5-0-1) made one save to earn his third shutout of the season. Carberry and senior captain Matt Koziol (Poughkeepsie, NY/Franklin D. Roosevelt) each notched four shots to lead RPI, while Beek had four for the visitors.
 
The Engineers are back in action on Saturday, when they visit third-ranked Oneonta for a non-league match (1pm). Skidmore hosts Plattsburgh on Saturday (4pm).