TROY, N.Y. – The 13th-ranked Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's soccer team matched the school record for wins to start a season, defeating SUNY Potsdam, 3-1, at East Campus Stadium on Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Engineers have equaled the 1951 team at 7-0, while the Bears fall to 6-2.

It didn't take long for the hosts to get on the board, as junior Devon Baughen (Sarasota, FL/Pine View) bagged his team-leading fourth goal of the year, just a tick into the third minute of play. Senior captain Nathaniel Gunderson (Olympia, WA/Tumwater) delivered a cross in from the right that Baughen finished from just outside the six.

Potsdam drew even in the ninth minute, when senior captain Ben Firlit (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls) was played into the left side of the RPI penalty area and scored just inside the right post for his club-leading seventh marker of the season. Classmate Tom Benedetto (Queensbury, NY/Queensbury) picked up the assist.

RPI went back in front for good less than seven minutes later on a penalty, converted by senior captain Paul Lentine (Penfield, NY/Penfield). The second penalty and third overall goal for Lentine this season came in the 16th minute.

Junior midfielder Vito Mesiti (Clifton Park, NY/Clifton Park) added an insurance goal for the hosts in the 54th minute, finding himself completely unmarked in the middle of the box. He calmly slotted a shot past a diving Jesse Kohler (Middletown, NY/Tomkins-Cortland C.C.) for his second of the campaign.

Kohler (4-1) finished with three saves, while RPI sophomore keeper Ryan Nealon (Somers, NY/Somers) stopped both shot he faced to improve to 7-0.
 
HOW THEY HAPPENED:
Goal No. 1: A Nathaniel Gunderson cross from the right wing was stuck home by Baughen just left of center in the penalty area. (3rd)
Goal No. 2: Tom Benedetto played Ben Firlit into the left side of the RPI area and Firlit finished low, inside the right post. (9th)
Goal No. 3: Paul Lentine converted from the spot. (16th)
Goal No. 4: Matt Carberry found Vito Mesiti all alone in the middle of the box and he made no mistake about it. (54th).

HISTORICAL WIN:
For just the second time in school history, the RPI men's soccer team has started the season 7-0. The 1951 team finished with a 7-0 mark.

UNBEATEN STARTS:
At 7-0, the Engineers are two games shy of the school record for longest unbeaten streak to start a season. The 2009 team began 8-0-1.

THREE GOALS:
The Engineers scored 3+ goals for the fourth time this season.

NOT FROM A SET PIECE:
The ninth minute goal allowed by RPI was the first this season from the run of play. The only other goal the Engineers have surrendered came from the penalty spot.

TEAM LEADER:
Junior Devon Baughen scored his team-leading fourth goal to get the ball rolling early.

FIRST GOALS ALLOWED:
Potsdam senior goalkeeper Jesse Kohler had not allowed a goal in five previous appearances this season and came in with a 4-0 record.

UP NEXT:
Rensselaer is back in action on Saturday, when it open Liberty League play at Bard (2pm).
The Bears host SUNY Plattsburgh on Saturday (1pm).