SCHENECTADY, N.Y. — The RPI men's soccer team earned its first Liberty League victory of the season with a 1-0 road win over Union on Friday evening at College Park Field.
Owen Filler supplied the decisive goal in the 75th minute, while
Noah Churchill made two saves to secure the shutout.
Union generated the first opportunity of the match, but RPI produced the first shot on goal when
Jax Jameson tested goalkeeper Dmitri Wild-Arons in the 19th minute. The Garnet Chargers held a 4-1 advantage in shots during the opening half, but Churchill turned aside their lone attempt on target late in the period to send the teams into halftime scoreless.
The Engineers survived a key moment shortly after halftime when Union was awarded a penalty kick. Kofi Sarfoh's attempt did not find the net, allowing RPI to keep the contest scoreless.
The Engineers began to generate more pressure as the second half progressed, with
Landon Bradley forcing Wild-Arons into a save in the 68th minute.
RPI finally broke through following a corner kick in the 75th minute. Filler found the back of the net for his first goal of the season, giving the Engineers a 1-0 advantage with just over 15 minutes remaining.
Union pushed forward in search of an equalizer, but the Engineers' defense held firm. Churchill made a save on Fuat Uruci in the 85th minute, and RPI limited the hosts to one final off-target attempt over the closing minutes.
Joshua Jarden also generated a late chance for the Engineers before the final whistle.
Filler, Bradley and Jameson accounted for RPI's three shots on goal, with Filler converting the lone tally. Union finished with a 9-4 advantage in total shots and a 4-3 edge in corner kicks, but the Engineers held the hosts to just two attempts on target.
