NEWARK, NJ (November 12, 2016) — The No. 19 Vassar College men's soccer team saw its incredible postseason run come to an end, falling 1-0 in overtime to Elizabethtown College at Rutgers-Newark in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday.
Last weekend, Vassar won the Liberty League Tournament for the first time since 2011 to earn a bid in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2012. With that, the Brewers have made six Liberty League Tournament appearances since the conference was actualized in 2000 and four NCAA Tournament appearances since joining in 1980.
The Brewers maintained possession throughout the contest, outshooting the Blue Jays 16-8 overall. Goalkeeper Matt Marcelino took the loss for Vassar (14-4-2) with two saves, while Ryan Sandell made five stops to earn the win for Elizabethtown (14-3-2), which had earned an at-large bid after falling in the Landmark Conference Finals.
Vassar had a few good looks throughout the contest. In the 27th minute, Tyler Gilmore had a great chance with a header, but missed just inches wide.
Both sides put up six shots apiece in the first half before Vassar clamped down on defense, holding Elizabethtown to just one shot in the second half.
In the 49th minute, Gilmore got another head on it, but his shot missed the left post by just a few inches. Four minutes later, Matt Fields dove in for a header with the keeper out of the box, but a defensive save prevented the Brewers from getting on the board.
The difference-maker came in the 95th minute. Jeff Light chased down Mitchel Gochnauer's pass before slotting the game-winner from a tough angle into the far, right side.
Although the Brewers' season has come to an end, it is not to be forgotten. With 14 wins this season, the Brewers matched a program best, a record that had been accomplished just once before in 1994.
Noah Bloch, Matt Fields, Stephen Jennings, John Lopes and Adam Warner comprise one of the winningest senior classes in program history, having compiled 41 wins over the past four seasons.
—VASSAR—
