TROY, .N.Y. – Junior Ryan Lane scored the eventual game-winning goal early in the second half to lift the Vassar College men's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), on Wednesday night at East Campus Stadium. With the win, the Brewers improve to 11-2-2 overall (5-1-2 Liberty League), while the Engineers drop to 10-4-2 (6-2-0 Liberty League).
Lane (Santa Monica, CA / Santa Monica) broke a 1-1 tie in the 54th minute, when he poked a shot over the outstretched right arm of RPI senior goalkeeper
Luke Brezak (Camano Island, WA / The Overlake School) after receiving a pass from the left of the penalty area from classmate Kinley Watkins (Berkeley, CA / Berkeley).
RPI, which carried 67% of the possession on the day, had numerous opportunities to equalize over the final 30 minutes of the game, but could find their past Vassar junior goalie Eric Wnorowski (Mantoloking, NJ / Christian Brothers Academy).
Sophomore Alex Garcia (Brentwood, NY / Brentwood) got his head to a
Michael Harten (Merrick, NY / Sanford H. Calhoun) corner in the 56th minute, but it was directed directly at Wnorowski.
In the 64th minute, junior
Chris Heffernan (Wyckoff, NJ / Ramapo) had a header saved, before senior
Paul Silva (Wayne, NJ / Seton Hall Prep.) was also denied.
Junior
Josh Gaudiano (Manhattan Beach, CA / Mira Costa) drove up the right side before seeing his shot saved by Wnorowski in the 78th minute. Sophomore
Kyle Osborne (Cohasset, MA / Cohasset) found himself free in front of goal three minutes later, but pulled his shot wide left of the net.
The Engineers netted the game's first goal in the 14th minute, when Silva sent a cross in from the right side that was smashed into the net by a Brewers defender for an own goal.
Vassar senior Quinn Tunnell (Hershey, PA / Hershey) brought the visitors level in the 25th minute, cleaning up a rebound in front goal, after an initial shot from freshman Duncan Keker (Oakland, CA / Head-Royce School) was parried away by Brezak.
RPI finished with a 24-6 shot advantage, including 9-5 on goal. Rensselaer also earned eight corners, while not allowing one at the other end of the field.
The Engineers conclude their regular season schedule at Clarkson University on Saturday. Kick-off is scheduled for 2pm. Vassar hosts Ithaca College on Saturday (2pm).
