POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (October 8, 2016) — The Vassar College men's soccer team got off to a hot start en route to a 3-2 win over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at Gordon Field on Saturday.

Alex Gonzales notched a pair of goals, including the game-winner, and Stephen Jennings added a score of his own, as the Brewers outshot their visitors, 19-11. 

"Our backline was big time for us today," Gonzales said. "We struggled a little in the first half up top. We weren't really connecting, never really got into a rhythm, but the backline was strong, confident, and they really held us in this one."

Goalkeeper Matt Marcelino earned the win for Vassar (8-2-2, 2-1-1 Liberty) with two saves, while Ryan Nealon took the loss for RPI (3-6-3, 1-2-1) after allowing one goal. Matt LaBranche replaced Nealon in net, making six stops over the final 88 minutes. 

Goal Scoring Rundown:

VC - Alex Gonzales (Hayden Van Brewer, Tyler Gilmore), 2nd minute: For the game's first goal, Van Brewer used a long throw-in to find Gilmore, who used a header-pass to connect with Gonzales. The junior then tipped the ball into the left side with a header of his own. VC 1, RPI 0 (SEE GOAL)

VC - (Stephen Jennings), 22nd minute: Jennings gave the Brewers a 2-0 advantage, following a breakaway down the middle. The senior captain won the one-on-one battle with the RPI goalkeeper before tapping the Brewers' second goal straight back into the net. VC 2, RPI 0 (SEE GOAL)

RPI - Devon Baughen (Austin Betterly), 34th minute: Baughen cut the Brewer lead in half, 2-1, with about 11 minutes remaining in the first half. Betterly's initial shot bounced off a defender for Vaughn to skid his seventh goal of the season past a diving goalkeeper. VC 2, RPI 1

VC - Alex Gonzales (Mattie Mrlik), 59th minute: Just like Gonzales had done in the first half, he opened scoring in the second. Mrlik set up the score, shooting off the post for an awaiting Gonzales on the left side. The midfielder dove in with a header for his third goal of the season. VC 3, RPI 1

"My teammates really got the ball to me in good positions," Gonzales said. "They were both easy tap-ins, so great work from the teammates to get the ball where it needs to be."

RPI - Brandon Pirog (Devon Baughen), 65th minute: The Engineers concluded scoring off a set piece with about 25 minutes remaining in regulation. Pirog tipped his first goal of the season into the left side off of a free kick by Baughen. VC 3, RPI 2

"We have a short week because we play on Friday, so we'll be working on getting back to the way we play, the fundamentals of what we do," coach Andy Jennings said. "…It's all positive. Three points."

Vassar's five-game homestand continues next weekend, as the team hosts Rochester Institute of Technology on Friday, Oct. 14 at 4 p.m. before welcoming Hobart College to Gordon Field on Saturday, Oct. 15 at 2 p.m.

—VASSAR—