Poughkeepsie, NY – The Vassar College Men's Lacrosse team suffered a heartbreaking 12-5 loss at the hands of visiting Clarkson on Saturday afternoon at Gordon field and by virtue of Ithaca's win over Skidmore was eliminated from the Liberty League Championship. Five different Brewers scored in the game, including senior
Troy Santise (Washington Township, NJ).
Saturday's loss finishes Vassar's season at 9-6 overall and 2-5 in conference competition, while Clarkson claims the last spot in the upcoming conference tournament with an 8-8 record and a 2-5 mark against league rivals.
How It Happened
- Clarkson set the tone early with an Andrew Kearney goal in the opening half minute and added an Alex Seiler marker at the 9:58 mark to open a quick two goal advantage.
- Vassar cut its deficit in half when Shane O'Hara (Warrenton, VA) found the back of the net with just over six minutes left in the opening frame to make the score 2-1.
- The Golden Knights regained a two-goal cushion with a Sam Mancabelli goal in the final minute of the first quarter to give the visitors a 3-1 lead through 15 minutes.
- Clarkson went on to score the first four goals of the second frame, including two player-up goals from Sebastian Geiger, to spread the lead to 7-1 with 2:29 left before halftime.
- Baker Morton (West Hartford, VT) stopped the run and got the Brewers back on the board in the final half minute of the half to make the score 7-2 at the break.
- Vassar outshot Clarkson 19-18 over the first 30 minutes.
- Face-offs at the break were even at 5-5 with Vassar holding a 15-14 edge in groundballs.
- After a scoreless third period, the two teams traded goals to open the fourth frame.
- Kearney scored to open the final frame, before Matteo Roman (Arlington, VA) scored while the Brewers were a player-down to make the score 8-3 in favor of Clarkson.
- Geiger and Matt Reilly scored just over three minutes apart to push the visitors in front 10-3 before the Brewers mounted one last charge.
- Vassar got back to within 10-5 with 3:54 left to play following consecutive goals from Santise and Drew Amirsakis (Darien, CT).
- Clarkson would not let Vassar any closer and received tallies from Robert Fox, with the player-advantage, and Kearny in the final 2:07 to close out the scoring in the game.
For The Brewers
- Santise found the back of the net for the 23rd time in 2024 and closed the contest with a caused turnover.
- Roman, O'Hara, Morton and Amirsakis all scored for the Brewers with Roman adding two caused turnovers and a groundball.
- Jack Palmer (Atlanta, GA) finished the day with two caused turnovers and four groundballs.
- Dan Bader (Forestdale, MA) chipped in two caused turnovers and four groundballs.
- Solomon Hess (Brewster, NY) collected four groundballs and forced a miscue.
- Eli Sherman (San Francisco, CA) won seven face-offs and secured four groundballs for the Brewers.
- Drew Quinn (Garden City, NY) finished the day with six saves in goal and produced two forced turnovers and four groundballs.
For The Golden Knights
- Kearney finished the win with four goals and five points.
- Geiger scored three times and collected a groundball.
- Matt Reilly produced two goals and three points.
- Seiler scored once and assisted on a pair of goals.
- Tyler Hall posted a pair of assists.
- Matt Szwagulinski collected eight groundballs and caused a pair of turnovers.
- Logan Wilkinson won seven face-offs and secured seven groundballs.
- Griffin Emerson earned the win in goal after posting 18 saves for the Golden Knights.
Game Statistics
- Vassar closed the day with a 39-31 advantage in overall shots and a 23-18 edge in shots on goal.
- Face-offs in the contest were even at 10 apiece.
- Vassar held a slim 33-32 edge in groundballs.
- Clarkson went 3-for-5 with the player advantage.
- Vassar went scoreless in six chances while a player up.
- Vassar was an efficient 21-for-23 in clears.
- Clarkson finished 23-for-29 in clears.
What's Next
- Clarkson will travel to Union to open the Liberty League Championship on Tuesday.
