Poughkeepsie, NY – Behind three goals from First Year
Arden Tobolski (Chapel Hill, NC) and five points from senior captain
Duncan Keker (Oakland, CA), the Vassar College Men's Soccer team opened the 2024 season with a dominating 5-1 home win over visiting Western Connecticut Friday evening.
Friday's win moves Vassar to 1-0 on the season and gives the Brewers their first win over the Wolves since a 1-0 overtime triumph on August 30, 2019, a win that also marked the Brewers' last win in a season opener. The Wolves open the season at 0-1.
How It Happened
- Tobolski got the scoring started for Vassar in the seventh minute when he finished off a pass from Keker at the 6:55 mark of the contest.
- Trailing 1-0, the Wolves evened the score at 1-1 just under four minutes later. Zachary Tuccitto leveled the score at the 10:16 mark when he worked his way into the box and tucked a shot inside the far post.
- Vassar took over after the West Conn goal, getting tallies from Jared Fiske (Livingston, NJ) and Tobolski 3:14 apart to open a 3-1 lead heading into halftime.
- Fiske found the back of the net for the first time in 2024 when he was on the end of a passing play from Eli Torrey (Philadelphia, PA) and Keker at 29:01.
- At 33:15, Tobolski struck for the second time, off Keker's third assist of the game, to give the Brewers a two-goal cushion at eh break.
- Vassar outshot West Conn 9-8 over the opening 45 minutes.
- The Wolves took the only two corner kicks of the first half.
- Vassar extended its lead to 4-1 when Keker got into the scoring column after converting a penalty kick at 60:39.
- Tobolski finished off the hat trick and closed out the scoring in the game when he picked off a pass and blasted home his third goal of the game at the 72:48 mark of the tilt.
- Vassar controlled shots after the break, 8-2 to go along with a 4-2 edge in corner kicks.
For The Brewers
- Tobolski starts his career with three goals on six attempts.
- Keker opened the season in strong fashion, picking up his first goal of the year and equaling his assist total from 2023 with a trio of helpers against the Wolves.
- Fiske picked up his first goal of the season with Torrey collecting his first point of the year with an assist on the Brewers' second tally.
- Tobolski led the team with six shots and along with Keker combined for 10 of the team's 17 attempts in the game.
- Jacob Raphan (Oceanside, NY) earned the win in goal with a pair of saves in just over 80 minutes of work.
- Patrick Gale (San Antonio, TX) made his first appearance of the season in goal, playing the final 9:54.
For The Wolves
- Tuccitto tallied the only goal for the Wolves, his first of the season.
- Kamal Sabar led the team with four shots in the contest.
- Three keepers saw time in the game for the Wolves, with starter Matthew Silva turning aside three shots in the first half.
Game Statistics
- Vassar finished the contest with a 17-10 advantage in overall shots and an 11-3 edge in shots on goal.
- Corner kicks in the game were even at 4-4.
- Fouls were whistled 16-10 against the Brewers.
What's Next
- The Brewers continue a three-game homestand to start the season on Sunday when they play host to Springfield.
- West Conn travels to Drew on Wednesday, September 4.
