TROY, N.Y. - Graduate student Paul Silva tallied on a pair of penalty kicks and classmate Joaquin Rodriguez also scored - all in less than three minutes early in the second half - to lead the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's soccer team to a 3-0 victory over Bard College in a Liberty League contest at East Campus Stadium. Rensselaer, which held a 21-7 advantage in shots, is now 3-3-2 and 1-0-0, while the Raptors are 4-2-1 and 0-1-0.

Following a first half that featured 12 shots (9 for RPI) and nine corner kicks (5 for RPI) but no goals, the Engineers broke the ice when Silva scored on a penalty kick low to the left side past a diving goalkeeper in the 48th minute. The PK was awarded on a hand ball in the box on a Ben Kogan bid from 11 yards out. 

Another penalty kick awarded just over a minute later, this time when Kyle Osborne was knocked down inside the box. Silva once again lined it up and scored, going to the right side for his team-high sixth goal on the season. Four of them have come on penalty kicks.

Rodriguez made it 3-0 in the 51st minute when he volleyed a ball from 20 yards out in the center of the field into the lower right corner. It was his first of the season.

Luke Brezak, also a graduate student, made them stand by stopping all four shots he faced. Gavin Hersey made seven saves for the Raptors.

The Engineers continue Liberty League play on Wednesday against St. Lawrence University (7pm), while Bard also plays on Wednesday when it hosts league foe Vassar College (7pm).