TROY, N.Y. – Freshman Gregory Andreou scored in the 74th minute to lift the Williams College men's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over eighth-ranked Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), in non-league play at East Campus Stadium. With the win, the Ephs improve to 4-4-1, while the Engineers drop to 8-2-3.
Williams broke onto the board in the 74th minute, after the Engineers committed a foul near the Ephs bench area. Sophomore Tom Young (Scarsdale, NY/Edgemont) delivered a right-footed ball towards the penalty spot that was flicked on by senior Noah Grumman (Upper Arlington, OH/Upper Arlington). Andreou then got a foot to the ball, tucking it past RPI sophomore keeper
Ryan Nealon (Somers, NY/Somers) for the only goal of the game.
Senior center back
Brett Pyser (Easthampton, MA/Williston Northampton) provided one of RPI's best chances to score in the 77th minute, when he got on the end of a
Devon Baughen (Sarasota, FL/Pine View) corner kick, but his header was cleared off the line by Williams freshman Harrison Fyke (Fort Erie, ON/Ridgway Crystal Beach).
Rensselaer was able to win a corner in the final minute, but a header by junior
Vito Mesiti (Slingerlands, NY/Guilderland) missed the mark and the Ephs were able to hold on for the win.
A scoreless opening 45 minutes, saw the visitors establish an 8-3 edge in shot attempts.
The Ephs came close to breaking the deadlock in the 63rd minute, when senior Gregory Danilack (Bethesda, MD/The Potomac School) hit the post of a corner service from junior Kevin Mercadante (Garden City, NJ/Chaminade).
RPI finished with a 14-10 edge in shot attempts, including an 11-2 advantage in the second half. Nealon and Williams junior goalie Christian Alcorn (Richmond, VA/St. Christopher's School) both finished with two saves.
NON-LEAGUE MARK:
With the loss, the Engineers move to 7-1-1 against non-league opponents this season.
AT ECAV:
The Engineers are now 2-2-2 at East Campus Stadium in 2015 and 16-6-8 since the start of 2012.
ELUSIVE RECORD:
RPI head coach
Adam Clinton is tied with Al Goodyear for the school's all-time wins record with 132. The Engineers have now gone 0-2-3 since he matched Goodyear's mark.
UP NEXT:
RPI visits North Country-rivals St. Lawrence and Clarkson, next Friday (4pm) and Saturday (2pm), respectively.
The Ephs travel to Endicott on Tuesday (6pm).
