TROY, N.Y. – Senior
Devon Baughen scored the game-tying goal in the 66th minute to help the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's soccer team to a 1-1 draw at Union College on Wednesday night at College Park Field. With the tie, the Engineers are now 3-5-3 (1-1-1 Liberty League), while the Dutchmen are now 7-2-1 (1-0-1 Liberty League).
Trailing by a goal, Rensselaer took advantage of a misplay by Union keeper John Weitzman to knot the score at 1-1. After failing to clear the ball, Weitzman's second attempt was blocked into the back of the net by Baughen for his team-leading sixth goal of the season.
The goal seemed to give the Engineers energy as they stayed on the front foot through much of the final 25 minute of regulation.
RPI freshman
Austin Betterly collided with Weitzman going for a 50-50 ball in the 75th minute. Weitzman took a swing at Bettery and was sent off, while Betterly was shown a yellow card for the challenge.
A corner kick in the 82nd minute found Trever McCaughey all alone at the top of the 18, but his right-footed attempt curled high and wide of the net. Three minutes later, McCaughey sent
Steven Collins in one-on-one with Union back-up goalkeeper Jonathan Graziosi.
The game went to extra time, with Rensselaer continuing to carry play. A Baughen corner kick in the 97th minute was flicked just wide by the head of Collins.
Betterly got free on the right side of the box in the 106th minute, but his attempt flew high.
Union's Andrew Fontaine had two shots on target in the second overtime session. His first was punched out by Rensselaer goalie
Ryan Nealon in the 106th minute, before his 30-yard attempt skipped into Nealon's waiting arms in the 108th.
The Dutchmen scored in the 34th minutes to take a 1-0 lead. Jason Miller delivered a cross from the left flank that Ethan Strauss headed past Nealon from six yards out. The goal was Strauss' third of the year.
Nealon finished with three saves, while Weitzman and Graziosi had one apiece. The Dutchmen held a narrow 12-11 edge in shots and a 6-5 advantage in corners.
The Engineers are back in action on Saturday, when they visit Vassar (2pm). Union hosts RIT on Saturday (2pm).
