TROY, N.Y. - For the second straight game, graduate student Paul Silva scored twice, including once on a penalty kick, to lead the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over Keene State College in a non-league contest at East Campus Stadium. RPI improves to 2-2-1 and the Owls drop to 0-3-1.

The Engineers needed just 7:53 before getting onto the scoreboard. Silva charged to goal and got a shot off from close range that Keene State goalkeeper Anthony Pasciuto saved but could not control. With the ball loose, Silva got a foot on it and put it across the goal line for his third goal of the season.

The score remained 1-0 until the 70th minute when the Owls were awarded a penalty kick following a hand ball in the box. Mbambi Mbungu converted it with a shot into the lower left corner of the net to tie the game. Just 26 seconds later however, the Engineers were awarded a penalty kick when Kyle Osborne was pulled down in the box while trying to control an Alex Garcia throw-in. Silva finished to the left despite a diving effort in that direction from Pasciuto.

The Engineers continued to control the rest of the game and finished with advantages in shots (18-3) and corner kicks (7-1).

Luke Brezak earned the win in goal for RPI, while Pasciuto stopped eight shots for the Owls.

Rensselaer is home again on Friday night at 6:30pm against Oneonta, while Keene State is back in action on Sunday against New England College (1pm).