Vassar Soccer Advances to NCAA Second Round

By Amie Canfield

BRUNSWICK, ME – A pair of second half goals, scoreless overtime and a dramatic penalty kick ending sent Vassar College into the Second Round of the 2022 NCAA Division III Men’s Soccer Tournament on Saturday afternoon. The Brewers tied 13th-ranked Babson College, 1-1 on Bowdoin’s Pickard Field, setting up the exciting ending that saw Vassar advance to Sunday’s action with a 3-1 win in penalty kicks.

Vassar, who will be making their third appearance in the Second Round – and fifth overall in the NCAA Tournament, are now set to face host Bowdoin College at 1pm on Sunday at Pickard Field. Ticket prices for the game (sold at the gate) are $6 for adults and $3 for seniors and students.

After a scoreless opening half, the Beavers jumped onto the scoreboard first early in the second as Mitchell Collins sent a pass to Ben Williams, who faked the Vassar keeper to the right as he sent the ball into the left corner in the 53rd minute.

The Brewers countered in the 68th minute, awarded a penalty kick as senior midfielder and captain Owen Fauth stepped up to the mark. He sent the ball in on goal, which was saved by the keeper, but the ball caromed off the line with momentum and dropped into the net for the equalizer.

Vassar had a number of chances to get the go-ahead late in the game, including a shot saves from senior midfielder Ryan Lane and rookie middie Diego Pastor-Valverde, but Babson keeper Walker White held strong.

Following two scoreless overtimes, including a challenge by Babson’s Ryan Kim on Vassar senior keeper Eric Wnorowski that he saved on the right side, the two teams headed into a penalty kick shootout. The Beavers opened the shootout as Louis Gazo fired one in. The Brewers sent sophomore forward Duncan Keker up, who drilled one past White for the 1-1 score.

Babson’s Mitchell Collins stepped up next, his shot sailing over the crossbar for the miss. Vassar senior midfielder Kyle Lopes then hit his shot for a 2-1 lead. Ryan Grund came up for Babson, his shot also sailing over the cross bar.

The Brewers then sent sophomore defender Julian Funaro to the line, who made his shot for a 3-1 advantage. It all came down to Babson’s Samuel Kalishman to keep it going, but his attempt went over the crossbar and out to send the Brewers into the Second Round.
Babson owned a 19-9 (9-5 on goal) advantage in shots for the contest, as well as a 10-6 margin in corner kicks for the contest.

Wnorowski finished the day with eight saves over 110:00 minutes, while White posted four stops on the other end.