POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (November 5, 2016) — With three seconds remaining in regulation, junior midfielder Alex Gonzales netted the game-winning penalty kick for the Vassar College men's soccer team to take home the Liberty League title with a 3-2 win over Skidmore College at Gordon Field on Saturday.
"Pure elation right now," Gonzales said. "Opportunities like that don't come very often in life, and to win something that big with such a great group of guys, we're like a family. That was our goal from the beginning, and we made it. There really are not a lot of words to describe how amazing we're all feeling right now."
This will mark the first Liberty League title for the Brewers since 2011, as they've made it to the postseason in five of the past six seasons.
The battle between the Brewers and Thoroughbreds was tight throughout the entire contest, as both sides put up 11 shots apiece. Goalkeeper Matt Marcelino earned the win for Vassar (14-3-2) with four saves over the final 67 minutes, as he relieved Adam Warner, who sustained an injury in the 23rd minute. Meanwhile, Derrick Yam took the loss for Skidmore (7-7-4) with one stop over the full time.
"We played really well," Marcelino said. "Kept it going through the second half, even when we were down. Got a couple of good calls, had a great fan base come out, and we're Liberty League champs. What more can you say?"
Both sides were aggressive out of the gate. Skidmore struck first in the 14th minute. Robbie Heumann notched his second goal of the season, heading in the ice-breaker off of Ben Caples throw-in, 1-0.
Fifty-nine seconds later, the Brewers countered with a goal of their own to level the match at 1-all. Building up in similar style to the game's first goal, Hayden Van Brewer's throw-in deflected off a defender for Tyler Gilmore to kick the equalizer straight back into the net. With that, Van Brewer claims the top spot in program history for assists in a season with 11, passing Zander Mrlik (10, 2011).
The Thoroughbreds continued to push, putting up an additional two shots before connecting on the third. In the 29th minute, Austin Okoye beat his defenders to slot his eighth score of the season into the bottom, right corner from about 15 yards away, 2-1.
Neither side was able to score the remainder of the half, and for just the third time this season, the Brewers trailed going into the break. Vassar came out relentless in the second half, tallying both scores over the final 45 minutes.
In the 55th minute, Tanner Sands notched his sixth goal of the season on a PK. The junior defender faked before playing it down the middle, as the goalkeeper dove to his left. Just 10 days earlier, Sands had notched the game-winning penalty kick against Union College.
Knotted at 2-all, it looked as though the game would head into overtime, but the Brewers drew a foul in the box to set up a second PK. Gonzales stepped up and struck the ball straight down the middle for his seventh goal and third game-winner of the season.
"The kids have been unbelievable. They just played with their heart out," coach Andy Jennings said. "We go down a goal, we come back. We go down a goal, we come back. And then in the last five seconds… (Gonzales) had the coolness to put it away."
Some of the 400-plus fans rushed the field upon the completion of the game, cementing one of the most memorable moments in program history.
"The atmosphere was amazing," Gonzales said. "The most fans I've ever seen at a Vassar game, from the stands to the other side, all of the other athletes were out here supporting, and there's no better feeling than winning the Liberty League."
Vassar will await a bid in the NCAA Tournament, which begins Nov. 12/13. The Selection Show will broadcast on the NCAA website on Monday, Nov. 7 at 1 p.m.
2016 Liberty League All-Tournament Team
MVP - Mattie Mrlik, Vassar
Tyler Gilmore, Vassar
Alex Gonzales, Vassar
Tanner Sands, Vassar
Tim Collins, Vassar
Hayden Van Brewer, Vassar
Derrick Yam, Skidmore
Ben Poole, Skidmore
Austin Okoye, Skidmore
Joseph Escamilla, Hobart
Devon Baughan, RPI
—VASSAR—
