Garnet Take Down Brewers in OT
POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (story courtesy Vassar SID) -- Despite two game-tying goals by Vassar senior Court Steiner, Swarthmore men's soccer team prevailed in an important non-conference road game on Saturday afternoon. Thanks to an overtime goal by sophomore Evan Nesterak, the Garnet defeated host Vassar, 3-2 in overtime at Prentiss Field.
A long throw-in by Garnet senior back Duncan Gromko set up the winning play, as junior Andrew Macurdy flicked the ball to Nesterak who fired a low shot into the left corner with 2:04 to play in the first overtime period.
The Brewers fall to 1-1 and travel to Mt. St. Mary's College on Wednesday evening while Swarthmore improves to 3-0 with the victory and host St. Mary's on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m..
The Garnet (3-1) found the back of the net 31 seconds into the game as junior midfielder J.P. Faunes volleyed a rebound just under the crossbar. Although Swarthmore controlled the play early on, Vassar keeper Jason Cetel made some tough saves to keep his team within striking range, including turning away Swarthmore sophomore Yoi Tibbetts on a one-on-one breakaway.
Steiner knocked in his first game-tying goal with 11:07 to play in the first half, assisted by fellow senior captain Adam Marsh. Freshman Brian Bianchetti served a ball into the box from midfield and Marsh flicked it to Steiner who was able to poke the ball past Swarthmore keeper Ryan Sutcliffe.
The Garnet regained the lead less than three minutes into the second half on junior captain Brendan Grady's perfectly placed direct kick to a cutting Ladulé Lako Lo Sarah, who nailed a header past Cetel. It is the first goal of Lo Sarah's collegiate career.
Steiner and the Brewers again responded, as sophomore Danny Kadishson hooked up with Steiner to mirror the previous Swarthmore goal. From midfield, Kadishson sent a ball into the box where Steiner knocked a diving header into the left corner netting. Senior Jo DelVecchio almost gave the Brewers the lead with 1:10 to play, but his shot sailed over the crossbar.
Swarthmore out-shot Vassar 18-8, the crucial difference being a 4-0 shot advantage in overtime. Cetel had seven saves for the Brewers. Starting Garnet goalie Sutcliffe recorded one save while freshman Zach Weimar stopped three shots in the second half and overtime to preserve the win.