TROY, N.Y. – Senior Paul Silva and junior Josh Gaudiano each had four points to pace the seventh-ranked Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's soccer team to a 5-1 victory over Plattsburgh State, on Saturday afternoon at East Campus Stadium. With win, the Engineers improve to 1-1-1 and extend their home unbeaten streak to 18 games (16-0-2) going back to 2018. The Cardinals, who fall for the first time, are 2-1-0.

Silva got the scoring started early when he rifled home a half-volley from the right side of the penalty area in the sixth minute. Taking a one-touch lay-off from sophomore Reggie Durden (Clifton Park, NY / Shenendehowa), he beat Plattsburgh freshman keeper Teddy Healy (Amityville, NY / Kellenburg) inside the far post for his first goal of the year.

RPI made it 2-0 in the 26th minute on the first of two on the day from Gaudiano (Manhattan Beach, CA / Mira Costa). Silva delivered a low free kick toward the top of the 18 that Gaudiano flicked into the air and smashed home, into the upper right corner.

The Engineers took their 2-0 advantage into halftime, along with an 8-2 shot lead.

Just four minutes into the second, RPI struck again. This time off a corner kick from the left flag. Sophomore Alex Garcia (Brentwood, NY / Brentwood) sent the ball into to the area where a Plattsburgh defender got his head to it, but the ball popped to RPI fifth-year centerback Joe Di Miceli (Oceanside, NY / Oceanside), who nodded it over Healy and into the net for his first tally of the year.

Freshman Brian Coughlan (Pearl River, NY / Pearl River) got the visitors on the board in the 61st minute after receiving a pass from sophomore Dylan Shalvey (Cavan, Ireland / Tappan Zee) and ripping a shot just under the crossbar to make it a 3-1 game.

Less than four minutes later the Engineers answered on Gaudiano's second of the day. Silva started the play with a low cross from the right that was touched towards the back post by senior Billy Chissoe (Gig Harbor, WA / Charles Wright Academy). Gaudiano slid in and tapped home a shot from close range, giving RPI back its three-goal cushion at 4-1.

The Engineers capped the scoring in the 89th minute on junior Gabe Terando's (Hopedale, MA / Hopedale) first goal of the season. Di Miceli earned the first of two assists on the play, when he launched a ball up field. Junior Chris Heffernan (Wyckoff, NJ / Ramapo) then deftly flicked a header into the run of Terando, whose first touch slotted home the final goal of the day.

Junior Luke Brezak (Camano Island, WA / The Overlake School) made two saves to earn the win between the sticks, while Healy had one stop at the other end of the field.

RPI is back in action tomorrow afternoon, when it hosts Manhattanville (4pm). Plattsburgh State visits Middlebury on Tuesday (4pm).