Freshman Yani Quinteros (Shirley, N.Y./William Floyd) scored the first goal of his career at the most opportune time for the Valiants men's soccer team, as Quinteros' goal at the 4:36 mark of the first overtime period helped Manhattanville beat Vassar 2-1 in game two of the 2011 Valiant Classic at GoValiants.com Field on Friday night.
The first half of the contest was dominated by the Valiants beginning at the 2:44 mark of the first period junior forward Eros Olazabal (Milton, Ontario/Bishop Reding) banked a chip shot from about 15 yards out off the crossbar. Over 25 minutes ticked off the clock before the next chance for the Valiants which came on a shot by senior Keston George (Port-of-Spain, Trinidad & Tobago/Victory Christian Academy) from just outside the 18-yard box.
Two minutes later Eros hit the crossbar for a second time just above a leaping Gary Clauss. At the 44:45 mark the Valiants finally broke through as George notched his third goal of the season after going one-on-one with Clauss before chipping it over the keeper to give Manhattanville the 1-0 lead heading into the break.
After the halftime intermission, the Brewers took control of the game as Vassar outshot their hosts 6-3 in the second half and outnumbered the Valiants in corner kicks, 6-3. After a series of throw-ins on the sideline helped the Brewers move up the field, Vassar tied the game after the last throw in was crossed and kicked free but not out by the Valiant defense. Unable to clear the ball, Ross Macklin sent a ball toward the net that was headed in by Juliano Pereira at the 81:08 mark to tie the game at one.
Junior Moshee Kelyana (Scarborough, Ontario/Brebeuf College) had one last chance in regulation sending the ball well high of the goal. With the game tied at one the two teams headed to overtime, for Manhattanville their first appearance in overtime this season while Vassar played in their second overtime contest for the year.
Vassar got the first opportunity in the overtime period on a corner kick by Macklin that was handled nicely by graduate goalkeeper Jason Torres (Harrison, N.Y./Harrison) and the Valiant defense. One minute later junior Erick Olazabal (Milton, Ontario/Bishop Reding) dribbled the ball down the sideline and sent a cross towards the Vassar goal.
After initially being stopped by the Vassar keeper, the rebound bounced in front of the net where Quinteros saw an opening and rattled the back of the net for his first career goal and the overtime winner.
In goal, Torres picked up his first win of the season seeing action for the first time in 2011, making one save in the process. Taking the loss for Vassar was Clauss who falls to 1-1 on the year after making two saves for the Brewers.
Manhattanville (3-0-0) will be back in action tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. against Berkeley (N.Y.), who fell in the opening game of the Valiant Classic to Baruch 4-2 earlier in the day. Vassar (2-1-1) returns to the pitch against Baruch at 5:00 p.m. on the GoValiants.com turf field.