TROY, NY - Freshman Chris Chiodo (Scarsdale, NY) scored the game-winning goal in the 72nd minute as the Union College men's soccer team overcame an early deficit for a 2-1 win over 12th-ranked New Jersey City University (NJCU) in the Red Hawk Classic at Renwyck Field on the campus of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). The win marked the 100th career victory for Union Head Coach Jeff Guinn, who is in his 12th year guiding the Dutchmen.
Union improves to 2-0, having defeated Rhode Island College, 1-0, in the tournament opener, while NJCU is now 0-2. The Gothic Knights lost to the host, Rensselaer, 3-2, on Friday night.
Chiodo gave the Dutchmen the win lead 18 minutes left in the second half when he collected a Jack Scott (Huntington, NY) pass and touched it past New Jersey City goalkeeper Andre Viola (Clifton, NJ).
The Gothic Knights opened the scoring just 17:44 into the contest when senior Edison Bilbao's (Carteret, NJ/St. Benedict's Prep.) left-footed 15-yard chip shot from the left of the goal beat Union goalkeeper Rob Kramer (Westport, CT/Staples) to the far post.
Union tied the game on a goal by freshman Kevan Bann (Ottawa, ON) at the 41:31 mark. Chris Choquette (Springfield, MA), who is also a freshman, won the ball at the top of the 18-yard box and slid a pass across to Bann, who scored to the left of Viola on a one-on-one situation.
Kramer finished with five saves to improve to 2-0. Viola, who is now 0-2, made four saves before Julian Cucco (Elmwood Park, NJ) played the final 9:20.
Union returns to action next weekend when it hosts the Union Classic next Friday and Saturday.
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