TROY, N.Y. - Senior Tommaso Valagussa ran down the left side and buried a rebound in the 88th minute and the No. 25 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's soccer team defeated Union College 1-0 to extend its unbeaten streak to nine games. The Engineers are now 8-0-1 during the stretch and 8-1-2 overall. They improved to 4-0-0 in the Liberty League, while the Dutchmen drop to 0-4-0 in the conference and 4-5-1 overall.

After a scoreless first half that saw Rensselaer with a 9-1 advantage in shots but limited scoring opportunities, the home team had numerous chances turned aside by Union goalkeeper Kenyon Pelletier in the second frame. He made a lunging save on a 30-yard bid by Michael Harten in the 23rd minute and then jumped to knock away a dangerous shot by Josh Gaudiano a minute later.

Billy Chissoe sent in a low shot with 16 minutes to play and Valagussa struck the left post with 10 to go. Rensselaer's continued pressure paid dividends when Gaudiano collected the ball 32 yards away from goal and sent a hard shot from 25 yards out that Pelletier dove to his right to stop, but was unable to control. Valagussa beat two defenders to the loose ball and booted it over a sprawling Pelletier with his left foot.

RPI's defense did not allow a shot on goal to earn earn the shutout, while Pelletier finished with five stops. 

The Engineers, which host games next Friday and Saturday, finished with a 19-2 advantage in shots and a 6-3 edge in corner kicks. Union is next in action on Friday in Schenectady.