TROY, N.Y. � Led by two first half goals and third tally late in the game, Hobart College held off Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) for a 3-1 victory in Liberty League men�s soccer action this afternoon. With the victory the Statesmen improve to 7-1 overall, while the Red Hawks fall to 4-4.

Hobart got on the board early in the first half when Dan Riso (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook Central) scored off a rebound at the 9:45 mark. Rensselaer goalie John Thibdeau (Altamont, NY/Bethlehem) came out to block the initial shot by freshman Cody Christensen (Guilford, CT/Loomis Chaffee), but it rebounded out to Riso for the goal. The Red Hawks would answer less than seven minutes later on a shot by sophomore Mike Henzel (Niwot, CO/Niwot), which ricocheted off the post, trickling in past the Hobart goaltender.

The Statesmen and Rensselaer would battle through a 1-1 tie until late in the half when Hobart�s Matt Schwartz (Wynnewood, PA/Lower Merion) scored at the 42:50 mark. Schwartz sent a hard kick from outside the box, which sailed over the head of Thibdeau for the, 2-1, Statesmen lead.

Hobart would add to its lead late in the second half, when sophomore Phillip Schoeniger (Erlangen, Germany/Elangen) scored off a deflection in front of the net with just under thirteen minutes remaining in the match. Despite numerous chances, the Red Hawks were unable to make a comeback, falling to 0-2 in Liberty League play.

Sophomore Pete Van Dellon (Webster, NY/Webster Thomas) made four stops in the win for the Statesman, who improved to 2-0 in the league. Thibdeau stopped four shots in defeat.

Rensselaer is back in action on Wednesday when it travels to Plattsburgh St. (7pm). Hobart returns to action on Tuesday against St. John Fisher (7pm).