September 24, 2004

GENEVA, N.Y.—Union College scored four goals in a span of 15 minutes in the first half to edge Hobart College, 4-3, in Liberty League soccer action this evening on Cozzens Field. This marks the sixth consecutive game between the Statesmen and Dutchmen that has been decided by one goal.

After an evenly played opening 20 minutes between the two squads, Hobart (2-5-0, 0-1-0 Liberty League) first-year midfielder Brad Weinberg (Marcellus/Marcellus, N.Y.) was able to get loose in the box and got tripped up for a penalty kick. Junior Micke Subotowicz (Farsta Gymnasium/Stockholm, Sweden) stepped up and buried the 12-yard shot in the back of the net for a 1-0 Statesmen lead in the 26th minute.

Just over a minute later, Union (5-2-0, 1-0-0 Liberty League) evened the score when Luke Labella (Taft School/Middletown, Conn.) collected a long ball and crossed it to sophomore David Papa (Shenendehowa/Clifton Park, N.Y.) who headed it home. It was the Dutchmen again 1:15 later with another score off an own goal by the Statesmen.

The scoring continued for Union in the 33rd minute with a bending shot past the near post from junior Kelvin Martinez (Northfield Mt. Hermon/Garifuna, Honduras) for a 3-1 lead. Junior Matt Mayerhofer (John Jay/Wappinger Falls, N.Y.) rounded out the scoring for Union in the 42nd minute with a free kick past Hobart goalie Ben Polk (Western Reserve/West Hartford, Conn.).

Facing a 4-1 deficit after the break, the Statesmen controlled possession from the very beginning of the second session. In the 59th minute Subotowicz got behind the defense, but was denied by Union goalkeeper Kevin O’Connor (South Lakes/Reston, Va.). Junior Eduardo Ponce deLeon (Northfield Mt. Hermon/Puebla, Mexico) was there for the rebound, knocking it in to make it a two-goal game for the Statesmen.

Subotowicz made things interesting in the 84th minute, rifling a free kick shot over the head of backup goalie Ian Solon (JFK/Bellmore, N.Y.), making it 4-3 with six minutes left to play. Hobart nearly tied the score in the closing minutes, but was unable to force any overtime.

The Statesmen outshot the Dutchmen 19-5, including 11-0 in the second half. Hobart also won the corner kick battle 8-6.

Polk made one save in 45 minutes of action, while Ben Tamberella (St. Peter’s Prep/Hoboken, N.J.) was untested in the second frame. O’Connor, Solon, and Mayerhofer combined to make eight saves for Union.

Hobart resumes Liberty League play again on Sept. 25, hosting Skidmore on Cozzens Field at 2 p.m.