KEENE, N.H., – The Keene State men's soccer team returned home to take on Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on Tuesday night at Dr. Ron Butcher Field hoping to rebound from their loss to Salve Regina University on Saturday in which they managed only five shots total.  Rahul Drukpa would net a goal for the Owls, and the shots came - but it would not be enough, as RPI would score three goals – two in the second half – to post a 3-1 win over KSC, who has dropped two straight and scored one goal in each.

Records

• Keene State: 2-2
• RPI: 1-1-2

Postgame Interview (Coach Schmidt)

How It Happened
Keene State would come out to a fast start with the ball in RPI's defensive zone early on, generating four corner kicks in the first 10 minutes.  However, they were only able to get two shots on net with those opportunities and RPI goalkeeper Colin Such made both saves to keep the match scoreless. The Engineers would later open the scoring when Josh Gaudiano would take a free kick with just under 20 minutes left in the first half. KSC goalie Reagan Racicot make a save on his shot toward the top corner of the goal, but he was unable to corral it, and Gabe Terando headed home a goal off the rebound, putting the Engineers up 1-0.  RPI would carry that lead into halftime despite Keene State having five of six corner kicks and a slim 8-7 shots advantage.  Each goalkeeper made three saves in the opening 45 minutes.
 
To start the second, RPI would be on the attack early, picking up two of their own corners that resulted in two shots on goal and two Racicot saves. A few minutes later, the Owls would have their own chances, but repeatedly shot wide.  With just under 30 minutes left to play, Reggie Durden assisted on the Engineers' second goal of the game, sending a ball across the box to Gaudiano, who would kick a one-timer into the back of the net at the 60:08 mark. Six minutes later, KSC would answer with their first goal to hang around, as Mbambi Mbungu passed the ball to Drukpa at the top of the box, who then sent an arching shot over a diving Such into the top right of the goal to cut the Engineers' lead to one.  However, RPI answered with under seven minutes left to play, as a handball was called inside the box, setting up Brady Van Epps for the penalty kick that he would bury and put the Engineers up 3-1, just about ending the Owls' hopes as the Engineers picked up their first win of the season.  The visitors had entered the game with two goals in their first three games of the season before putting in three tonight.
 
Racicot made six saves for the Owls in the loss, while Such stopped five for RPI.
 
Inside the Box

• KSC falls to 9-11-2 in the all-time series against RPI and has lost four straight, scoring one goal or less in every meeting for an aggregate of 11-3 during the skid.  The Engineers were 2-7 all-time in Keene prior to their two wins here during the streak.
• The Owls outshot the Engineers 16-14, but landed only six shots on target (RPI nine).  Mbungu led KSC with six shots (two SOG).
• Drukpa and Mbungu have combined for six goals (of a team total of 10) and five assists on the season.

Up Next

• Keene State opens Little East Conference play on Saturday, September 16 at Western Connecticut State University (2-1) (1:00 p.m.).  The Wolves, who are 10-19-2 against the Owls, handed KSC an ugly 6-0 loss last year and have won four straight in the series.
• RPI also plays on Saturday, hosting the State University of New York at Oswego (0-0-3) at 5:00 p.m.