'TROY, N.Y. - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) jumped out to a 2-0 lead early in the first half and sophomore goalkeeper John Thibdeau (Altamont, NY/Bethlehem) made 11 saves as the Red Hawks held on to tie Keene State, 2-2, at Harkness Field. With the tie, Rensselaer is now 6-5-2 overall while the Owls, the 18th-ranked team in the nation, is 9-1-2.

Rensselaer got on the board just 11:31 into the game when freshman Mike Henzel (Niwot, CO/Niwot) let go a strong kick that went over the goalie's left shoulder. Just five-and-a-half minutes later, RPI was the benefactor of an 'own goal' and the Red Hawks led 2-0. Keene State cut the lead in half just nine minutes later when Mike Cooley (Northborough, MA/Algonquin) deflected a Pelse Mesa (Manchester, NH/Manchester) pass into the net.

The Owls got the equalizer at 73:06 when freshman Alex Horne (Harvard,MA/Bromfield) got around the goalie.

Thibdeau finished with six saves in the first half, four in the second and one in the second overtime for the tie. KSC goalie Matt Caron (Amston, CT/RHAM), a senior, had five saves, including two in the first half and three in the second.

Keene State will travel to Rhode Island College on Saturday (1 p.m.) for a key LEC game. 

(courtesy of RPI)