Box Score

GENEVA, NY (September 25, 2009) – The Vassar College men's soccer team managed to hold off No. 6-ranked Hobart College for 101 minutes, but a goal by the Statesmen in the second overtime period gave them a 1-0 victory in the league openers for both teams on Friday.

Hobart improved its unbeaten mark to 6-0-1 overall and 1-0-0 in the conference, while the Brewers fell to 5-3-0 overall and 0-1-0 in the Liberty League. Vassar will play tomorrow at Hamilton at 2:00 p.m.

One minute and 22 seconds into the second overtime period, sophomore Michael Moulton sent a cross into the box. His pass found freshman Alex Kittelberger, whose header from 6 yards out landed in the left corner of the net and gave the Statesmen the win.

In the first half, Hobart's best chances to get on the board came in the final minute. Senior Grant Morrison and Kittelberger recorded back-to-back shots that Vassar senior goalie Jake London stopped. Likewise, Moulton nearly had a goal early in the second stanza, but his header was grabbed by London.

Vassar kept the pressure on for most of the contest, and had opportunities to score throughout. In the 19th minute, after a Hobart yellow card, Brewer sophomore Ross Macklin booted the free kick from just out the 18-yard box that was saved by Statesmen goalie Charlie Hale. Junior Alex Freund was there for the rebound, but his shot hit the cross bar.

In the 64th minute, the Brewers nearly scored again. The ball got past Hale and was headed into the goal, but Hobart first-year defender Taylor Jones got there to make the team save.

The Statesmen outshot Vassar 12-8 in regulation, and held a 5-0 edge in overtime. The Brewers played the final 25:06 of the match a man-down after a red card.

Hale finished with three saves, while London collected five stops for Vassar.

The Statesmen will be back in action tomorrow, Sept. 26, when they host 14th-ranked Rensselaer for another Liberty League match at 2 p.m.