Standout Soccer Player Kicks RPI Football to Win in Capital Region Clash

In the battle for the Dutchman Shoes Trophy, it was one player who had recently just changed his shoes who secured victory for the RPI Engineers.

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Trevor Bisson is a Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year

A five-year member of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's men's soccer program, Bisson developed into one of the best defenders in Division III soccer. Bisson was recognized as the Liberty League's Defensive Player of the Year for his efforts in 2021, anchoring a defense that gave up just 0.83 goals against per game.

Bisson played 1617 minutes this season, more than anyone on the Engineers. The Engineers themselves, however, were not chosen for an at-large bid for the 2021 NCAA soccer tournament.

With that knowledge in mind, Bisson shifted his focus from the pitch, to the gridiron.

Bisson Filled In for RPI's Injured Kicker

As asserted by The Record in their article on Bisson's feat, he had been a placekicker in high school football, but had not kicked in organized football since that time. Given that Bisson is a fifth-year senior, that is at least five years ago.

With the knowledge that his RPI soccer career is over, Bisson shifted focus, thanks in large part to an injury to the team's normal placekicker, Conor MacDougall.

The game in question, against the Capital Region's own Union Dutchmen, was closely fought throughout. After a failed two point conversion, RPI trailed in the game, 17-16, with second remaining in the fourth quarter.

Miraculously, RPI was able to recover an onside kick, and string passes together to advance the ball forward. With time running out, a 36-yard kick awaited Trevor Bisson.

With the Game on The Line...

On their crosstown rival's field, in their Liberty League regular season finale, the Engineers pull out the victory, thanks to a bomb off of the leg of their first-time kicker, Trevor Bisson.

Now, all we can do is wait, and hope that the Engineers can secure an at-large bid to the tournament, so Bisson can have the chance to do it all over again.