TROY, N.Y. - The National College Athletic Association (NCAA) has announced the 61-team field for the 2015 Division III Championship Tournament and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) has earned one of the 19 at-large bids. The Engineers will travel to Waltham, Mass. for an opening round match-up with Stevens Institute of Technology on Saturday. Kick-off time is to be announced.
Rensselaer, which is led by 14th-year head coach
Adam Clinton, finished the regular season with an 11-4-3 overall record, includign a 3-3-2 mark in Liberty League play. Despite not qualifying for the conference tournament, the Engineers will be making their seventh NCAA Tournament apperance and their first since 2012. RPI is 3-6 all-time tournament play, including a 1-0, 89th-minute, loss to the Ducks on November 15, 2008. That Stevens team went on to fall in the National Championship game.
As a team, the Engineers are averaging 1.67 goals on 12.7 shots per game, while allowing 0.78 goals on 11.3 shots. RPI has earned 90 corner kicks, while conceeding 62 and have converted both of its penalty kicks, while the opposition is just 2 for 4 from the spot. Posting an 8-1-1 record in non-conference play, Rensselaer earned early season wins over Stockon University (2-1) and regionally top-ranked Oneonta (1-0). The Engineers' eight-game winning streak to open the season set a school record.
Junior
Devon Baughen has started all 18 games for the Engineers and has a team-high 23 points on nine goals and five assists. His 23 shots on goal are the most on the club. Senior captain
Nathaniel Gunderson is second with 14 points on five goals and four assists. Fellow senior captains
Paul Lentine (4 goals, 2 assists) and
Matt Carberry (3 goals, 4 assists) have 10 points apiece. Gunderson and Lentine are tied for the team lead with three game-winning goals.
In goal, sophomore
Ryan Nealon is 11-4-3 as the starter in all 18 matches this season. He has posted a 0.74 goals against average and an .800 save percentage, recording 56 saves and eight shutouts. RPI has surrendered two or more goals just three times this season.
Site host Brandeis, which is hosting NCAA Tournament play for the fourth straight season, opens against Thomas College on Saturday at 5pm. The Engineers and Ducks will follow at 7:30pm.
