TROY, N.Y. – Powered by a pair of second half goals, the sixth-ranked
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's soccer team defeated
Skidmore College, 2-1, in Liberty League action on Saturday. The
Engineers improve to 9-1-1 with a 3-1-0 conference mark, while the
Thoroughbreds fall to 4-6-0 and 1-3-0 in the Liberty League.

Tom Kelly put Rensselaer on the scoreboard early in the second half, tallying his fourth goal of the
season in the 53rd minute. Senior Sean Fleury (Princeton, MA/Wachusett
Regional) earned the assist after he carried the ball up the left side,
battled around a defender near the edge of the box and sent it to Kelly
in the middle from six-yards out.

The Engineers gained a two-goal advantage less than six minutes later
after senior Lincoln Field (Contoocook, NH/Hopkinton) pushed the ball
down the right side near the goal line and crossed it back to the
middle. Classmate Michael Long (Hopkinton, NH/Hopkinton) was there and
put the ball in off his knee for the 59th minute tally.

Skidmore pulled to within a goal on a chip-shot by junior Greg Lloyd
(Allendale, NJ/Northern Highlands) in the 79th minute. He took a pass
from Gabe Zieff (Corte Madera, CA/Redwood) on the left side of the 18 and
beat keeper Alex Penny (Northport, NY/Northport) just under the crossbar.

A defensive tone was established through the first 45 minutes as the
teams played to a scoreless first half. There were a number of chances
on both sides with Rensselaer holding a 5-2 edge in shots.

Lloyd had the Thoroughbreds best opportunity in the half after he
corralled a pass and one-timed it at the RPI net. Penny made the sliding save.

Penny picked up his eighth win of the season, stopping four shots to
improve to 8-1-1 overall. Peterson made seven saves and is now 4-6-0.

Rensselaer finished with the advantage in shots, 14-8, and had one corner
kick, while Skidmore had none.

 Skidmore is also in action on Wednesday when it travels to the
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (3:30pm).