SCHENECTADY, NY (September 30, 2017) – The Vassar College men's soccer posted two second-half goals to stay unbeaten in Liberty League action, earning a 2-0 conference road win at Union College Saturday in action from College Park Turf Field.
 
The first half of the contest was slow to get going, as the two teams each felt out the game. In fact, the first shot didn't come until 10:13 of the contest, as Toby Stansell had his attempt blocked for the Brewers. Minutes later, Union had its first chance of the game but an Omar Al-Homsi chance was also blocked.
 
There were only six total shots in the entire first stanza, as the best chance of the opening period came in the 45^th minute. The Brewers earned a corner kick, which was sent into the box by senior Hayden Van Brewer. Junior back Tyler Gilmore flew into the box and got a head on the ball, but his attempt was stopped by Union keeper John Weitzman to send the game into intermission scoreless. The save was the only time either keeper was required to make a stop.
 
After the break, the game began to open up as both coaching staffs were able to make adjustments at halftime. Shortly into the second half, sophomore Mattie Mrlik had a good chance, but his shot was stopped by Weitzman. VC kept the possession, and in the 52^nd minute tallied the game's first score as senior Jose Novas netted his fourth of the year to put VC up 1-0. It was the third consecutive game Novas has scored, as he pushed in a rebound for the goal.
 
Vassar would not relent, as the pressure was steady for the next eight minutes after the goal but the Brewers couldn't add an insurance goal. Union would get its best opportunity in the 65^th minute, as Ethan Strauss had a golden chance but his attempt clanged off the post before being cleared.
 
After that attempt, VC began to once again hold possession which would pay off in another score in the 79^th minute. On the play, Van Brewer played a ball into the box to Gilmore, who shook off a season-long goal drought to deposit his header into the lower left netting to put VC up 2-0.
 
Vassar nearly made it 3-0 three minutes later, as Van Brewer made a bid for his fifth goal of the season but his rocket banged off the crossbar. That would be all that the Brewers would need, as sophomore keeper wasn't asked to make a save until eight seconds remaining in the game on a Salvador Lopez, Jr. shot to preserve the shutout.
 
Gilmore led all players with six shots on the contest, as the Brewers outshot Union 16-6 for the game. Mrlik and Hawkins Barratt Heitmann each took a pair of shots for Vassar, while Strauss, Al-Homsi and Lopez each took two apiece for Union. Weitzman finished with six stops in net for the Dutchmen, who dropped to 7-2-1 overall and 0-2-1 in the Liberty League.
 
Vassar earned a 6-3 corner kick advantage, upping its record to 6-3-1 overall and 3-0 in the conference.
 
The Brewers will be fully rested for a huge Liberty League tilt next Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m., as Skidmore College (4-1-3, 1-0-2) comes to Gordon Field for a rematch of last year's conference championship match.