POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - The Vassar College men's soccer team needed only one goal from its countless scoring chances to defeat a competitive Mount Saint Mary College team, 1-0, on Sunday afternoon at Gordon Field. The Brewers outshot the Knights 29-9 but stellar play by Mount sophomore keeper Matt Darling (Staatsburg, N.Y.), who finished with 11 saves, limited Vassar to one goal despite numerous quality scoring opportunities.

“This was a tough game,” said head coach Andy Jennings, “Mount Saint Mary is a very good team that defends well and works hard but we created a number chances and got better technically in the second half.”

On a Mount goal kick in the 68th minute, junior captain Zander Mrlik struck a header back toward the goal past the last defender where sophomore Rob Manukyan collected the loose ball on breakaway and shot it under the charging keeper to put Vassar ahead 1-0.

The Brewers (1-0-1) face SUNY Old Westbury on the road on Tuesday, September 6, at 5:00 p.m. The Knights (1-2) play Keystone College on Thursday, September 8, at 3:00 p.m.

The first half started with physical play around the center of the field until Vassar strung together a frantic series of opportunities in the 32nd minute.

Freshman Logan Matheny played a through ball to classmate Tom Weichert who blasted a shot which Darling saved with his foot. The ball popped into the air and sophomore Adrian Demelier left the ground for a difficult volley, but his attempt went wide. On the next play, Demelier played a pass back to senior Sam Erlichson McCarthy who ripped a shot, but Darling made a diving save to knock the ball away. Soon after, defender Evan Seltzer stole the ball in Mount's end of the field, and made a threatening run into the box that culminated with a shot just over the goal.

Vassar's scoring chances were plentiful until Manukyan eventually netted the go-ahead goal. Only two plays before his goal, Manukyan took a through ball from senior Harrison Freund and while shielding a defender, chipped a shot over the charging keeper that rolled just wide.

“It was a hard-fought game and in games like this you need one guy to come through for us, and Rob came through,” said Mrlik. “All you want are chances, and goals will come.”

Mount's best scoring opportunity came in the 36th minute on a cross from Sean Lockwood to Matt Palumbo who bounced a header high. Vassar's keeper, junior Gary Clauss, made a diving save to punch the offering over the goal.