TROY, N.Y. – Freshmen Ben Kogan and Josh Gaudiano scored first half goals 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.

Kogan (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) opened the scoring in the 27th minute, getting his right foot to a cross from Gaudiano (Manhattan Beach, CA/Mira Costa) to score his first collegiate goal.

Gaudiano then doubled the RPI lead three minutes later, finishing on a partial breakaway for his third goal of the season. Senior Austin Betterly (Plymouth Meeting, PA/Plymouth Whitemarsh) slipped a ball in behind the Potsdam defense and Gaudiano took one touch into the box before slotting home the chance.

Junior Tomasso Valagussa (Arlington, MA/Arlington) nearly made it 3-0 with less than 10 minutes to play in the opening half, but his header found the gloves of Bears sophomore goalkeeper Conor Callan (Piermont, NY/Tappan Zee).

The Engineers, who had 60% of the possession in the contest, also outshot the Bears, 15-6, including 8-2 on goal.

Callan made two big saves in the second half to keep the Bears within a pair. The first came in the 66th minute, when he got full extension to rob RPI senior Dylan Confair (Williamsport, PA/Williamsport Area) of goal.

Then, on a penalty kick that was drawn and taken by Valagussa in the 88th minute, Callan dove to his right to keep out the initial attempt and the follow up by sophomore Paul Silva (Wayne, NJ/Seton Hall Prep.).

Callan (2-4-1) finished with six saves on the day, while RPI senior Matt LaBranche (Wilbraham, MA/Minnechaug Regional) had two stops to earn his first clean sheet of the season.

Rensselaer wraps up its five-game homestand on Tuesday afternoon, when it hosts Oneonta (4pm). Potsdam travels to Utica College on Tuesday (7pm).