TROY, N.Y. – Senior captain Nathaniel Gunderson scored the game's only goal in the 58th minute to lift the 13th-ranked Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over SUNY Oneonta at East Campus Stadium. With the home-opening win, the Engineers improve to 6-0 for the just the second time in school history, while the Red Dragons drop to 3-2-1.

Gunderson worked his way onto the end of a long ball from classmate and fellow captain Matt Carberry (Auburn, NY/Auburn) before slotting home a shot from just outside the penalty area. The low, hard drive snuck just under the Oneonta senior goalkeeper Vincent Pellegrino (Baldwin, NY/Baldwin) for Gunderson's second goal of the season.

Following the tally, the visitors fought back and created a number of scoring opportunities. In the 71st minute, senior Jared Van Brunt (Sayville, NY/Sayville) got his head on a Dylan William (Monroe, NY/Monroe-Woodbury) corner kick, but RPI freshman Trevor McCaughey (Murrieta, CA/Murrieta) stayed tight to the post and cleared it off the line.

One minute later, the Red Dragons drew a penalty kick, but for the second time in as many games, Rensselaer sophomore keeper Ryan Nealon (Somers, NY/Somers) was able to come up with the save. This time, he dove to his left to turn away a shot from Williams.

The Red Dragons continued to press and three consecutive corner kicks in the final minute and a half of play, but could not find a way past Nealon and the Engineers defense, which stood strong for its fifth shutout in six games.

Nealon (6-0) finished with four saves, while Pellegrino (3-2-1) had one. Oneonta held a 15-6 edge in shot attempts, including 3-2 on goal. The Red Dragons won eight corner kicks to RPI's two.

HISTORICAL START:
The Engineers are 6-0 for just the second time in school history and first time since 1951. That team finished the year at 7-0.

SOLVING THE RED DRAGONS:
RPI's win over Oneonta was the first since September 15, 2009, when the Engineers won 3-0 at Renwyck Field in Troy.

GAME WINNERS:
Senior Nathaniel Gunderson now has two goals on the season. Both have been game-winning tallies.

FIRST SHOT:
Rensselaer's goal came on just its first shot on target in the game. The Engineers finished with two shots on goal.

UP NEXT:
RPI is back in action on Saturday, when it hosts SUNY Potsdam at East Campus Stadium (4pm).
The Red Dragons visit Montclair State on Saturday (7pm).