Box Score | RPI Athletics on Instagram

TROY, N.Y. - Senior Andrew Gondek defender scored the game's only goal off a set play in the 73rd minute and the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's soccer team held off Clarkson University, 1-0, in a Liberty League contest at East Campus Stadium. RPI improves to 4-6-3 overall and 2-2-1 in the conference, while the Golden Knights fall to 5-5-2 and 1-3-1.

Senior Devon Baughen (Sarasota, FL / Pine View) started the game's only scoring play from 25 yards out when on the whistle of a free kick he slid the ball to a streaking Gondek (Ballston Spa, NY / Ballston Spa), who pushed a shot past the oncoming goalkeeper. The goal was the first of the year for the captain and the assist was the second for Baughen.

Neither team sat back at that point and both generated strong bids. For Clarkson, its best opportunity came with 11:30 to play when it applied consistent pressure before sophomore Drew Lewis (Rexford, NY / Shenendehowa) drove a shot wide and out of bounds from 20 yards out. Freshman Aidan Subra (Highland Park, IL / Highland Park) later had a run down the right side but Engineers' goalkeeper Matt LaBranche (Wilbraham, MA / Minnechaug Regional) came out aggressively to slide on the ball, which got too far ahead of Subra.

The first half featured 10 total shots with the Engineers collecting six of them. They had several strong chances including seven minutes into the contest when senior Vito Mesiti (Slingerlands, NY / Guilderland) took a cross from Andrew Zendan (Charlotte, NC / Providence) but his shot from 15 yards out was stopped and held by Clarkson goalkeeper Michael King (Verona, NJ / Verona). 

Clarkson nearly took the lead with roughly 15 minutes left in the first half when freshman Henry Gomez (Germantown, MD / Northwest) slipped the ball under LaBranche (Wilbraham, MA / Minnechaug Regional) and toward an empty net, but the ball rolled just past the post and out of bounds. 

Rensselaer countered with a run down the left side by Austin Betterly (Plymouth Meeting, PA / Plymouth Whitemarsh) with 11:30 to play in the first half, but his left-footed shot was knocked aside by the lefthand of King. The senior keeper later made his third save of the half with under a minute to play on a one-touch attempt from in front by Dillon Ashong (Pleasant Valley, NY / Arlington). Baughen beat his defender and set up the chance with a pass from the left side.

RPI held a 6-4 edge in shots in the first 45 minutes (3-1 on goal) and a 3-0 edge in corner kicks. The second half shots were even at 4-4 and the Engineers had a 3-1 lead in corners. 

LaBranche finished with one save for the Engineers, who host nationally-ranked St. Lawrence University on Saturday at 2pm. King had three stops for the Golden Knights, who play at Union College on Saturday at 2pm. Both games are Liberty League contests.