TROY, N.Y.- The Keene State Owls men's soccer team was unable to pull out the upset on Wednesday night over No. 13 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, falling by a score of 3-1 at ECAV Stadium. 

Records:

• Keene State: 8-4-0
• Rensselaer: 11-1-0

How It Happened:

The 13th-ranked team in the nation started off hot against the Keene State Owls striking for their first goal of the contest just ten minutes in when a man was taken down inside the box, resulting in a penalty kick. The leading goal scorers for the Engineers, Josh Gaudiano was called upon and left no doubt, as he was able to open up the scoring in the contest giving RPI the 1-0 lead. The Engineers kept the attack throughout the first half, picking up their second goal of the contest soon after their first.

Just less than five minutes after RPI tallied their first goal, they would be back on the board again as the second goal of the game from Josh Gaudiano came through for a 2-0 lead for the Engineers. Gaudiano took a pass from Michael Harten and sliced the ball into the lower left corner of the net. The Owls quickly found themselves down two in the contest. RPI's offense would not go away as they were able to notch their third goal in the 25^th minute.

In the 25^th minute RPI was awarded a corner kick which was taken by Josh Gaudiano. Gaudiano sent a sailing ball into the box that found the strike of Joe Di Miceli, who placed the ball into the top right corner of the net, quickly giving RPI the 3-0 lead. RPI would put up the first ten shots in the game before the Owls were able to put one up and over the bar in the 35^th minute for their first shot in the game.

KSC would see a goalie tandem of Anthony Pasciuto and Gavin Fitzpatrick in between the pipes for the Owls in the contest. Pasciuto notching the start, playing the first 25 minutes of the contest and giving up the three goals to RPI. Fitzpatrick came in for the final 75 minutes of the contest and was able to shut down the offense for RPI, collecting six saves in the first half.

Keene State would show some life early through the second half when Vance Bates picked up his third goal of the season. A shot was taken by the Owls LJ Luster which was turned aside by the Engineers GK Matt LaBranche, but Bates was right on the doorstep to knock home the rebound, cutting RPI's lead to 3-1. KSC would keep LaBranche busy for the remainder of the second half, but they just could not find that next goal to get them back into the contest, falling to the number 13 team in the country by a final of 3-1. 

Inside the Box:

• In 75 minutes of action, GK Gavin Fitzpatrick came away with ten saves on the Engineers without allowing a goal.
• RPI's Josh Gaudiano continues to be a dominant force for the Engineer's picking up two goals in the contest, raising his total to 12 on the season. 
• GK Matt LaBranche twisted away five saves for RPI on the evening.
• KSC picked up the only cards assessed in the game, as they were given three. Ethan Rose, Nicholas Dalesio and Jack Herlihy all were credited with the yellow cards. 

Up Next:

• Keene State looks to break their first losing streak of the season when they travel to Eastern Connecticut State University on Saturday, October 12 for a 1:00 matchup.
• RPI will take on Liberty League opponent Skidmore College on Saturday, October 12 at 2:00 pm in Sarasota Springs, N.Y.