POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. — The Vassar College men's soccer team got off to a hot start en route to a 3-2 win over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) at Gordon Field on Saturday.

Alex Gonzales notched a pair of goals, including the game-winner in the second minute, and Stephen Jennings added a score of his own, as the Brewers outshot their visitors, 19-11. 

Goalkeeper Matt Marcelino earned the win for Vassar (8-2-2, 2-1-1 Liberty) with two saves, while Ryan Nealon took the loss for RPI (3-6-3, 1-2-1) after allowing one goal. Matt LaBranche replaced Nealon in net, making six stops over the final 88 minutes. 

For the game's first goal, Hayden Van Brewer used a long throw-in to find Tyler Gilmore, who connected with Gonzales. The junior then tipped the ball into the left side of the net with a header.

Jennings gave the Brewers a 2-0 advantage, following a breakaway down the middle. The senior captain won a 1on-1 battle with the RPI goalkeeper before tapping the Brewers' second goal.

In the 34th minute, senior Devon Baughen cut the Brewer lead in half (2-1) with about 11 minutes remaining in the first half. Freshman Austin Betterly's initial shot bounced off a defender for Baughn to stick home his seventh goal of the season.

Gonzales made it 3-1 in the 59th minute. Zander Mrlik set up the score, finding Gonzales on the left side. The midfielder dove in with a header for his third goal of the season.

Freshman Brandon Pirog pulled Rensselaer within 3-2 in the 65th minute. A free kick from the left side from Baughen found the head of Pirog, who redirected home his first collegiate goal.

The Engineers are back in action next weekend, when they host Clarkson and St. Lawrence on Friday (4pm) and Saturday (2pm), respectively.