Box Score

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (September 8, 2009) – Vassar senior Brian Bianchetti has already tallied three goals in three games for the men's soccer team early in the season, but he has yet to score one using his feet. The forward was the only player to find the back of the net on Tuesday night at Weinberg Field, and once again he did so on a header in Vassar's 1-0 win over Mount St. Mary College.

Vassar improves to an unblemished 3-0, and will play at Stevens Institute of Technology this Friday, September 11 at 7:00 p.m. The Mount St. Mary Blue Knights drop to 1-1-1 overall and will travel to take on York College this Saturday at noon.

Bianchetti has displayed impressive mastery of the skill of heading, as every one of his team-leading three goals has come off headers. On Tuesday evening, his lone goal did not come easily as senior keeper Paul Aries was nothing but reliable in between the posts for the Blue Knights.

Vassar fired off 27 shots throughout the game, 10 on goal, but Aries seemed to react a step earlier each time. He was particularly impressive defending against Vassar freshman Zander Mrlik's soon-to-be legendary throw-ins, which repeatedly reached the six-yard box from the sideline.

Vassar dominated possession throughout the game, and especially in the first half. The Brewers had a 17-2 shot advantage in the first half, and 10-2 in the second. Mrlik's throw-ins proved a consistent threat for the opponents, and Vassar had a series of well-placed corner kicks as well, but the Brewers were unable to convert in the box.

The first significant chance came in the 25th minute, when sophomore Brett Anker fired a rocket from inside the 18-yard line. The shot ricocheted off of Aries' hands and into the crossbar, and senior Alex Freund's attempt to finish on the rebound was knocked down by Aries.

That near-score set off a series of determined offensive sequences for the Brewers, all of which were either rejected by Aries or were just slightly off the mark. Bianchetti and fellow senior Chris Nieminski each had four shots in the first half, and sophomore Ross Macklin added two.

With so many opportunities and still no tally, Vassar's forwards displayed a surge of intensity in the last five minutes of the first half, and let fly a number of shots that were just wide. But with just 50 seconds remaining in the half, Brewer sophomore Harrison Freund sent a soaring corner kick into the box, and a leaping Bianchetti headed it into the net.

In the second half, Mount St. Mary's defenders were able to break up a sequence of Vassar breakaways, two of which were one-on-one sprints, and Aries impressed the crowd with a pair of diving saves that could have easily expanded the Vassar lead.

Vassar keeper Jake London saw no serious threats throughout the game, facing just a single shot on goal overall. The calm on the Vassar end was largely thanks to stellar defensive play by junior Marc Morelli, senior Guthrie Raimondo, and freshman Mrlik.

For the Blue Knights, freshman Drew Altieri tallied two shots, and sophomore Agustin Ponce registered his team's sole shot on goal.