Sophomore Ryan Grant's goal in the 78th minute gave the nationally-ranked #17 St. Lawrence University men's soccer team a 1-0 victory over Vassar College in the Liberty League semifinal match at …
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Sophomore Ryan Grant's goal in the 78th minute gave the nationally-ranked #17 St. Lawrence University men's soccer team a 1-0 victory over Vassar College in the Liberty League semifinal match at Sandy MacAllaster Field on Wednesday afternoon.
The Saints, who improve to 14-2-2 overall on the season, will host the winner of tonight's other semifinal game between second-seeded RPI and third-seeded Skidmore. Junior goalkeeper Aaron Costello made two saves to record his 15th shutout of the year.
Vassar, which was outshot by St. Lawrence 21-4 in the contest, was able to contain much of the Saints' offense to just four shots on goal, but was done in by Grant's first goal of the season. Senior goalkeeper Ryan Grimme made three saves on the day, but it was not enough as the Brewer fall to 8-5-5 overall.
The Saints were on the attack in the 78th minute, pushing the ball into Vassar's defensive zone. The Brewer's couldn't manage to clear the ball after it was knocked around a bit at the top of box, and St. Lawrence sophomore Seyefe Brouk touched a short pass to Grant cutting up the middle. Grant came through the Brewer back line for a one-on-one chance, gracefully pushing the ball past a challenging Grimme for what proved to be the game-winner.
Vassar quickly went on the attack on the restart after the Saints' goal as a Brewer midfielder chipped the ball over the St. Lawrence defense to give Gavin Jennings a one-on-one with Costello. Jennings, however, was called offsides and the Saints held on for the remainder of regulation to celebrate the victory.
In the opening minutes, Vassar used its speed on the front line to create one of its best scoring opportunities of the game. Tom Wiechert freed himself up from the St. Lawrence defense for a one-on-one with Saints' goalkeeper Aaron Costello. Costello made the save, and the Saints settled down defensively to hold the Brewers to just two shots in the half.
Meanwhile, St. Lawrence had six shots in the first half, forcing Brewer goalkeeper Ryan Grimme to make two saves. Arguably their best opportunity to score in the opening half was when Mark Provost flicked a defensive clear past Vassar's back line to Jamal Samaroo for a breakaway, but Samaroo was called offsides.