TROY, N.Y. – The Ithaca College men's soccer team lost its second game of the season on Saturday as the Bombers fell to RPI, 3-1.
 
IC is now 10-2-3 overall with a 3-2-2 mark in the Liberty League while RPI is 7-8-1 on the season and 4-3-0 in conference play.
 
The Engineers put their first goal on the board at the 18:42 mark. Austin Betterly scored his first goal of the game when he took a pass from Brandon Pirog 30 yards out, dribbled down the right side and fired a shot to the far post.
 
Betterly struck again in the 54^th minute when he worked around two Ithaca defenders and drilled a shot past Max Lichtenstein in goal to put the Engineers up, 2-0.
 
RPI added its final goal in the 71^st minute. Michael Harten sent in a free kick, which ended up at the feet of Trevor McCaughey, who knocked it into the goal to give the Engineers a 3-0 edge.
 
The Bombers opened up the game strong, taking control and recording the game's first shot from Jack Monnes, which was blocked by an Engineers defender, just 3:46 in.
 
Ithaca had a promising chance to take an early lead 15:35 in, when junior Justinian Michaels ripped a shot from 40-yards out, forcing goalkeeper Luke Brezak to make a jumping save.
 
Following RPI's initial goal, the Engineers continued to pressure the Bombers and Lichtenstein in goal. In the 24^th minute, Lichtenstein made his first save of the game on a Betterfly shot.
 
The Bombers registered two more shots through the remainder of the first half, first from first-year Kevin Dorf, which was high, followed by a Nate Mansfield shot which was blocked by RPI.
 
With less than 40 seconds left, the Engineers made one final offensive push, registering a corner, before a Trevor Bisson shot was blocked.
 
RPI wasted no time in the opening minutes of the second half, testing Lichtenstein almost immediately. Lichtenstein, however, came up with the save on Danny Corridan's attempt.
 
The Bombers had one of their most solid chances in the 60^th minute when a Monnes' header was blocked, giving Thomas Pierce a shot opportunity. Pierce's header was saved by Brezak, however.
 
In the 67^th minute, Pirog put a shot on frame, but Lichtenstein made the stop. Just four minutes later, however, the Engineers would go on to score the third and final goal of the game.
 
The Bombers registered three more shots on the day before the final buzzer sounded. Jon Kyriakidis' shot was blocked in the 82^nd minute before a Nate Schoen shot in the 83^rd minute sailed high.
 
First-year Jared Gast had the last shot attempt for IC, in the 86^th minute, which was saved by Brezak.
 
Despite the score, statistically the teams were nearly even, which Ithaca registered 10 shots to RPI's 11. The Bombers also tallied seven shots versus the Engineers' four.
 
Both Lichtenstein and Brezak made three saves apiece in the net for their respective teams.
 
Ithaca is back in action on Wednesday as the Bombers host RIT at 3 p.m. IC then rounds out the regular-season on Saturday, October 27 with a 2 p.m. match against Vassar, which will also be senior day.