Box Score

ANNADALE-ON-HUDSON, NY (October 27, 2012) – The Vassar College men's soccer team secured the No. 1 seed for the Liberty League Playoffs after shutting out Bard College 6-0 Saturday afternoon in their final season game.

Senior forward Dante Varotsis scored two goals in the win to lead the Brewers. All three of Vassar's starting forwards recorded goals in the game. This marks the first time in program history that Vassar has won the regular season Liberty League title.

“Everyone came together in such a big way this season,” senior defender Zander Mrlik said. “It's such an unbelievable feeling to accomplish the very goal you wanted and had set at the beginning of the season.” Varotsis and Mrlik have been at Vassar for four years and remember when things weren't as bright as they are now. “I feel like we're one of the last classes to experience a hard season,” Varotsis said. “This feels like the best reward for working hard all four years.”

The Brewers finish the season with a record of 11-4-2 and 5-1-2 in the Liberty League and will host the semifinal round against Union College after Union defeated Skidmore College 4-1. Due to Hurrican Sandy, the semifinal game that was originally scheduled for Wednesday, October 31, will now be played at Gordon Field on Thursday, November 1 at 2:30 pm.

“It's going to be another difficult game against a quality team with quality players,” head coach Andy Jennings said. “It will be probably be decided by one goal.”

Junior forward Rob Manukyan was credited with the game-winning goal in the 13th minute when sophomore forward Tom Wiechert took a shot that hit the crossbar. Manukyan received the deflected ball and easily tipped it in. Manukyan finishes the regular season with four goals and three assists for 11 points.

“It was a tight first half even though we felt we were the better team we still had to put our chances away,” Jennings said. “The second half, we played some good stuff in the first ten minutes. I have to give Bard credit because they worked really hard and it was a good end to a very good season.”

Sophomore midfielder Justin Mitchell took a corner in the 30th minute when he sent the ball over Raptor defenders to Mrlik who headed the ball towards sophomore defender Zachary Nasipak who headed the ball himself for the second goal. Nasipak finishes the season with three goals.

Varotsis got his second goal of the season off a Mrlik pass in the 52nd minute when freshman defender Nick Hess sent a ball to Mrlik. Mrlik finishes the regular season with four goals and eight assists for 16 points. “It was awesome to score two goals and to finish the season with a win like that,” Varotsis said before turning his sights on Union. “We have to go out there and get it done again. They're going to come out and play hard for revenge. If we play our game and keep up our intensity, we are going to have them.”

Sophomore forward Tom Wiechert scored his seventh goal of the season off a pass from junior defender Evan Seltzer in the 57th minute and Varotsis scored his third goal of the season off passes from Manukyan and sophomore forward Andre Cousineau a minute later. “Our forwards came through and they looked great,” Mrlik said. “Dante, Tom and Rob all scored and they will be needed in a big way for the game against Union. We needed two wins this week and everyone came through.”

Cousineau scored his second goal of the year off a pass from sophomore defender Evan Kamber in the 64th minute.

Junior goalkeeper Ryan Grimme recorded two saves while Bard's Gabe Rudd recorded nine saves. Vassar outshot Bard 23-3.