Box Score

HOBOKEN, NJ (September 11, 2009) – When the Stevens Institute of Technology men's soccer team struck for a goal on its first possession less than a minute into Friday's match against Vassar College, it looked as though it would be a long night for the Brewers. Vassar managed to clamp down on the No. 2 nationally-ranked Ducks for the remainder of the half, but three second half goals propelled Stevens to a 4-0 win at De Baun Athletic Complex.

It was the first loss of the season for the Brewers, who fall to 3-1. Vassar will return to action with a home game against SUNY New Paltz on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. The Ducks, ranked No. 2 in the most recent National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) National Rankings, improve to 4-0 and will face another nationally ranked team, No. 11 Swarthmore College, on the road on Sunday.

The Brewers had 12 shots to the Ducks' 13, but just four of those were on goal, while Stevens had 10 shots on the net. Vassar held a large advantage in corners, 8-3, but was unable to capitalize on those opportunities.

The Ducks quickly showed why they are one of the top teams in the nation, as senior Terrance Johnson received the ball following the open kickoff and streaked up the right side of the field. Johnson sent a nice cross into the center where a Vassar defender accidentally played it backwards. Vassar senior keeper Jake London sent the ball away from the goal, but freshman Zach Adler followed up to chip a shot into the top right hand corner of the net. Just 28 seconds had ticked off the clock.

However, the Brewers showed poise, holding Stevens at bay for the remainder of the half as the Ducks managed four more shots, just one on goal.

Although the Brewers started the second half with two early shots on goal by sophomore Ross Macklin and junior Jake Weiss, they were unable to solve Ducks keeper Zach Carr and it was Stevens who found the back of the net.

The Ducks went on a scoring splurge, netting all three of their second half goals in a span of just under ten minutes. In the 61st minute, junior Nolan Sandberg slipped by his defender on the right hand side of the box, and sent a shot on goal that deflected off a Vassar player into the net, giving the Ducks a 2-0 lead. Riding the momentum of that goal, Stevens struck for another score less than a minute later as sophomore Peter Bednarsky sent a long pass to freshman Victor Daza who made a move and knocked a shot in from the right side. The Ducks were not done for the evening, with their fourth and final goal in the 70th minute as Adler recorded his second tally of the game on a penalty kick.

Senior Guthrie Raimondo led Vassar with two shots, both on goal, while Macklin and Weiss recorded two shots, one on goal apiece. London took the loss, making four saves. Freshman Gary Clauss saw time in the second half, making two saves with no goals allowed.

Carr picked up the win for the Ducks, making four saves.