TROY, N.Y. – Freshman
Josh Gaudiano scored two goals and assisted on a third to lead the No. 9/14 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's soccer team to a 3-1 victory over Hobart College, on Friday afternoon at East Campus Stadium. With the win, the Engineers extend their school record unbeaten streak to 12 games, while improving to 12-1-1 overall (4-0-1 Liberty League). The Statemen drop to 9-4-1 (3-2-1 Liberty League).
Gaudiano (Manhattan Beach, CA/Mira Costa) got the scoring started in the 25th minute, converting from the spot after Hobart was whistled for a handball in the penalty area. The tally for Gaudiano was his school record-breaking 13th of the season, passing Gary Sroka '08, who netted 13 in 2007.
RPI took its 1-0 lead to into halftime, despite being outshot, 7-4.
Rensselaer doubled its advantage in the 62nd minute, when freshman
Arik Duncan (Decatur, GA/Woodward Academy) beat his defender up the left side and delivered a perfectly placed cross to Gaudiano for the first time finish.
The Statesmen drew to within 2-1 in the 73rd minute on a free kick from the right side by Juan Widoycovich (Santiago, Chile/Bershire School). His delivery into the box bounced just inside the left post for his third goal of the season.
Rensselaer answered 10 minutes later, as senior
Austin Betterly (Plymouth Meeting, PA/Plymouth Whitemarsh) broke in on goal, before slotting home his second of the year. Gaudiano chipped the last Statesmen defender giving Betterly a 1-on-1 chance with goalkeeper Brian Salazar (Revere, MA/Buckingham Browne & Nichols). Betterly took a touch past the fallen keeper, before tapping home a left footed shot into the open net.
Sophomore
Luke Brezak (Camano Island, WA/The Overlake School) finished with three saves to pick up his eight victory (8-0-1), while Salazar (9-4-1) had three stops as well. Rensselaer finished with a 16-11 shots advantage, including 6-4 on target.
Gaudiano's five-point day gives him 33 for the year, setting a new program record for a single season. Sroka had 29 in 2007. With at least a point in each of his last games, Gaudiano has four multi-goal games, while also having a hand in each of RPI's last eight goal of the last four contests.
RPI returns to action tomorrow afternoon, when it hosts RIT at ECAV (2pm). Hobart visits Union College tomorrow (1pm).
