Ithaca, NY – The #12 Vassar College Men's Soccer team suffered its first loss since September 21 on Saturday afternoon, suffering a 4-2 road Liberty League loss at Ithaca. Senior
Duncan Keker (Oakland, CA) and First Year
Arden Tobolski (Chapel Hill, NC) supplied the goals for the Brewers.
Saturday's loss stops a six-game unbeaten streak for the Brewers and drops Vassar to 9-3-2 overall on the season and 4-1-2 in Liberty League play. Ithaca improves to 7-6-2 overall and 3-3-1 in conference action. With Saturday's loss, Vassar slides into a tie for second place in the conference standings, four points behind first-place St. Lawrence.
How It Happened
- Vassar jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead, getting the opening goal in the eighth minute.
- Keker tallied for the third time in 2024, finishing off a feed from Brandon Liu (Seattle, WA) at 7:48 to give Vassar the early one-goal advantage.
- Ithaca responded with two quick tallies, evening the score just over six minutes after the Keker marker.
- Jared Krasnove brought the Bombers even at 13:50 with his fifth goal of the season.
- Ithaca took its first lead of the day at the 18:23 mark when Connor Tiernan finished off his first goal o the season to give Ithaca a 2-1 advantage.
- The Bombers held onto the lead until the late stages of the first half when Tobolski evened the score in the 36th minute.
- Tobolski was on the end of a Mauricio Mejia (Miami, FL) pass and deposited his 10th goal of the season at 35:36 to send the Brewers into the intermission knotted at 2-2.
- First half shots on Saturday were even at 6-6.
- Vassar went to the Break with a 4-2 edge in corner kicks.
- Jacob Raphan (Oceanside, NY) kept the Brewers even with a trio of first half saves.
- Ithaca struck quickly coming out of halftime to pull in front by two goals over the first six minutes of the second half.
- Landon Hellwig scored what proved to be the game winning goal at the 48:54 mark to give Ithaca a 3-2 lead.
- The Bombers surged in front by two goals just under two minutes later when Ikey Borden found the back of the net at 50:44.
- Vassar outshot Ithaca 9-7 after the break, but could not find the back of the net after halftime.
- The Brewers held a 3-2 edge in second half corner kicks.
- The Brewers forced Ithaca keeper, Bryson Shaull, to make five second half stops, including three in the final six minutes.
For The Brewers
- Tobolski potted his team leading 10th goal of the season, pushing his team lead in points to 21.
- Keker scored for the third time this season and moved his point total to nine. Keker led the team with four shots, putting three on frame.
- Liu recorded his second assist of the campaign.
- Mejia helped on his team leading fifth goal of the campaign and pushed his season point total to seven.
- Raphan suffered the loss in goal on Saturday, finishing the day with four saves.
For The Bombers
- Borden closed a big day with a goal and a pair of assists for Ithaca.
- Krasnove posted three points, scoring once and assisting on another goal.
- Andrew Kusek assisted on a goal and led the team with three shots.
- Shaull earned the win in goal with six saves.
Game Statistics
- Vassar held a 15-13 advantage in overall shots, while shots on goal were even at 8-8.
- Corner kicks went to the Brewers by a 7-4 margin.
- Fouls were whistled against Ithaca, 13-9.
What's Next
- Vassar returns home for the first time since October 12 when it hosts RPI on Wednesday.
- Ithaca welcomes RIT to South Hill on Wednesday.
