TROY, N.Y. – Sophomore Austin Betterly and freshman Trevor Bisson each tallied to lead the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's soccer team to a 2-0 victory over SUNY Potsdam, on Saturday afternoon at East Campus Stadium. With the win, the Engineers improve to 4-2, while the Bears drop to 4-3.

Betterly (Plymouth Meeting, PA/Plymouth Whitemarsh) opened the scoring in the 17th minute, after latching on to a long ball up the right wing from classmate Bradbury, CA/Loyola). Betterly cut across and ripped a left-footed shot inside the far post to give RPI a 1-0 lead.

Just 10 minutes later, Betterly nearly potted a second goal, but his header found the right upright and his follow up flew over the bar. Freshman Tomasso Valagussa (Arlington, MA/Arlington) found himself with some space on the left side of the penalty area, but his well struck attempt found the waiting arms of Potsdam sophomore keeper Jakeb Mitchell (Brockport, NY/Brockport).

Rensselaer took its 1-0 lead to the break, along with a 4-0 edge in shot attempts.

Sophomore Matt Menendez (North Port, FL/North Port) saw his point blank shot stopped by Mitchell in the 76th minute.

The Engineers continued to apply pressure and eventually broke through with a second goal in the 79th minute. Freshman Trevor Bisson (Baton Rouge, LA/Episcopal) finished off his second goal of the year on a well place header into the right side netting. Classmate Michael Harten (Merrick, NY/Sanford H. Calhoun), who was making his first collegiate start, delivered the corner kick service from the right.

Sophomore Matt LaBranche (Wilbraham, MA/Minnechaug Regional) was not forced to make a save in playing the first half, while senior Ryan Nealon (Somers, NY/Somers) had one stop over the final 45 minutes. Mitchell wound up with three saves for the Bears.

RPI is back in action next Saturday, when it opens Liberty League play at Bard (2pm). Potsdam begins its SUNYAC schedule at Plattsburgh on Saturday (1pm).