Box Score

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (October 29, 2014) – Freshman Alex Gonzales (Aliso Viejo, CA/Mater Dei) scored the game's only goal in the 49^th minute, as Vassar blanked Union College 1-0 Wednesday afternoon at Gordon Field. The Brewers held off a late Dutchmen comeback bid in the game's final minutes to seal their 10^th win of the season and a spot in the conference playoffs. VC can now finish no worse than fourth in the Liberty League, and have a chance to take the No. 3 seed with a win over Bard in their regular season finale. The Brewers move to 10-5-2 on the year and 4-2-1 in conference with the win, while Union drops to 8-9-1 (2-5 LL) with the loss.

Tied 0-0 heading into the second half, Gonzales quickly broke the deadlock in the final period of play after a series of passes created an open shot in the box. Consecutive one touch passes in the middle of the box from junior Cosmo Veneziale (Garden City, NY/Garden City) and freshman Reid Smith (Greensboro, NC/Greensboro Day School) found Gonzales free on the left side, and he powered a shot past the out-of-position Union keeper to put the Brewers ahead 1-0.         

The teams exchanged shots over the course of the next several minutes, but it wasn't until the final moments of the game that things got interesting. After a ball got loose in the box in the 85^th minute, Union freshman Ethan Strauss put an attempt towards the empty portion of the goal, but it deflected wide left out of bounds.

On the ensuing corner kick, senior Kevin Janson found himself with an open shot just outside the 18 after the ball was cleared out. His attempt carried all the way into the box, and ricocheted off the right post out of danger to retain the 2-0 Brewer advantage. Less than a minute later, a header shot from junior Jeff Cohen was well placed towards goal, but junior goalkeeper Adam Wanrer (Tenafly, NJ/Tenafly) was there to make the save and preserve his seventh shutout of the season.

The first half saw Vassar hold a 7-1 shot advantage, as the Brewers produced a number of decent looks throughout the first 45 minutes. Rain fell for most of the match, leading to several misplayed balls in less than ideal conditions. Union goalie Ryan Carter made three of his five saves in the first, while both of Warner's stops came in the second half.

Vassar will wrap up its regular season at Bard College this Saturday, November 1 at 12:00 pm.    

Note: Vassar's nine wins at Gordon Field this season ties the program's best mark (9) in home victories in a season.