POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. –  The Skidmore College men's soccer team couldn't overcome two second-half penalty kicks, falling in the game's final seconds to No. 20 Vassar by a 3-2 score in the Liberty League Championship game Saturday afternoon.
 
Vassar, the 20th-ranked team in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America national polls, and the tournament's second seed, clinches its second championship overall, and improves their record to 14-3-2. The Brewers have earned the automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament, and will await their seeding and opponent on Monday at 1 p.m. on the ncaa.com website.
 
Skidmore, the fourth seed in the tournament, falls to 7-7-4 overall after their second straight appearance in the league title game.
 
Robbie Heumann got it going for the Thoroughbreds in the first half, scoring the first goal on a header off a throw in from Ben Caples, his shot hitting the upper right corner in the 14th minute.  Nearly a minute later, Vassar ties it up, with Tyler Gilmore receiving the ball off a deflection, kicking it straight to the back of the net.
 
Austin Okoye responded for the Thoroughbreds, running past a few defenders on the break to score off the right corner in the 29th minute for his eighth tally of the year.
 
In the second half, a pair of penalty kicks doomed the Thoroughbreds. Tanner Sands netted the equalizer in the 55th minute, scoring his sixth of the season. With three seconds remaining and extra time looming, a Skidmore foul in the penalty box set up of a penalty kick for Vassar's Alex Gonzales. Gonzales beat Skidmore keeper Derrick Yam, to send Vassar to the NCAA tournament.
 
Shots were even at 11 for both teams. Yam made a save playing all 90 minutes. Vassar goalkeeper Matt Marcelino replaced starter Adam Warner in net, making four saves in the final 67:26 of play.