POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (October 22, 2016) — Tyler Gilmore headed in the game-winner and Mattie Mrlik added a pair of goals, as the Vassar College men's soccer team topped No. 12 University of Rochester at Gordon Field on Tuesday, 3-0.
"It was a great game," coach Andy Jennings said. "Great win. Really played well. Some really great connections offensively, and I'm really happy with the result."
The victory over the Yellowjackets, ranked first in the East, was made extra special, as it came on Senior Day wherein the Brewers honored their five graduating seniors in Noah Bloch, Matt Fields, Stephen Jennings, John Lopes and Adam Warner prior to kickoff.
"The four years have gone by so quickly," said Warner, who earned his eighth career shutout. "I couldn't ask to be with a better group of guys. We have five seniors, and we're all super tight, and it makes great team chemistry."
Rochester outshot Vassar 14-5 overall, but the Brewers were able to capitalize on good looks. Warner earned the win for Vassar (10-3-2, 3-2-1 Liberty) with four saves, while Patrick Conway took the loss for Rochester (8-2-3, 1-1-2 UAA) with one.
Both teams were kept scoreless throughout a competitive first half, but the Brewers picked up their game coming out of the break.
Gilmore put the Brewers on the board in the 51st minute, heading his fourth goal of the season into the left side of the net, following a Hayden Van Brewer corner kick from the right.
About 16 minutes later, Mrlik padded the Brewer lead to 2-0. Following touch passes between Alex Gonzales and Reid Smith, Smith slotted a pass to Mrlik, who beat the keeper one-on-one before finding the back of the net.
Mrlik continued to play aggressively on offense, gathering a steal on the opposite side before breaking away down the middle and chucking his team-leading seventh goal of the season into the net from the top of the box.
"It was a great team performance," said senior captain Stephen Jennings. "We played as good as we know we can play, and it was just a great team performance… We have to keep riding this momentum into Wednesday when we play Union, which is a must-win game. We just have to take the positives from today and turn them into positives on Wednesday."
Vassar will host Union College for its final home game of the regular season on Wednesday, Oct. 26. Kickoff from Gordon Field is set for 3:30 p.m.
—VASSAR—
