Game Box

Poughkeepsie, N.Y. – The Vassar College men's soccer team captured its first Liberty League win of the season, 3-1, over Skidmore College Friday at Gordon Field.

The Brewers improve to 6-5, 1-2 in the league and will return to Gordon Field on Saturday to take on Union College at 2:00 p.m. The Thoroughbreds drop to 4-5, 1-2, and head to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute for a 2:00 p.m. game on Saturday.

The first half proved decisive as the 3-1 halftime score was unchanged in the final 45 minutes.

Vassar got on board in the 22nd minute as freshman Zander Mrlik rifled a throw-in from about 30 yards up the right hand sideline. Senior Chris Nieminski out-jumped the crowd to flick the ball backwards into the left hand corner of the net.

The Thoroughbreds responded less than seven minutes later, as junior Matt Kelsey outran his defender at the top of the box, angling towards the sideline and then cut back towards the goal drawing senior keeper Jake London out of the goal face in an attempt to smother the ball. Kelsey slipped the ball into the right hand corner of the net for his third season goal.

Brian Bianchetti gave Vassar back the lead in the 40th minute with a rebound goal. Simon Whitelaw made it 3-1 when he redirected a ball from 20 yards out for his first collegiate goal.

The Brewers outshot the Thoroughbreds 11-4.

Skidmore held a 10-3 shot advantage in the second half, but was unable to seriously threaten until late in the game. The Thoroughbreds put the pressure on in the final 15 minutes as both Kelsey and senior Kevin Regan got looks on goal but London stopped both shots, his only saves of the game.

Jake London improved to 6-5 with the win, making two saves, while Nick Peterson dropped to 4-5 and also made two saves. The overall shots were even at 14-14, but the Brewers held a 5-0 advantage in corner kicks.

                          Soccer Game Summary (Final)
                            2009 Vassar Men's Soccer
             SKIDMORE vs Vassar (Oct 09, 2009 at Poughkeepsie, NY)


 SKIDMORE (4-5, 1-2) vs. Vassar (6-5,1-2)
 Date: Oct 09, 2009  Attendance: 150
 Weather: 60 overcast

 Goals by period       1  2  Tot
 -------------------------------
 SKIDMORE............  1  0 -  1
 Vassar..............  3  0 -  3

 SCORING SUMMARY:
  1.  21:49 VASSAR Chris Nieminski (3) (Zander Mrlik) - flick off of throw in from 30 yards out
  2.  28:23 SKIDMORE  Matt Kelsey (unassisted) - out ran from top of box slid past ball past keeper from the right side
  3.  39:56 VASSAR Brian Bianchetti (8) (unassisted) - shot blocked by defender ricochets to shooter 10 yards out
  4.  43:35 VASSAR Simon Whitelaw (1) (unassisted) - attempted clear knocked to him. High shot from 20 yards out

 Shots: SKIDMORE 14, Vassar 14
 Saves: SKIDMORE 2 (Nick Peterson 2), Vassar 2 (Jake London 2)