GENEVA, N.Y.-The Hobart College soccer team defeated Vassar 3-0 in a Liberty League contest on Cozzens Field this afternoon. With the win, the Statesmen are now 9-3-1 overall and 3-1-1 in Liberty League play.
 
The first half was tightly contested with both teams recording four shots. The Brewers (5-6-1, 2-2-0) had the game's first scoring opportunity. In the 18th minute, Heitmann Hawkins Barratt fired a shot on cage that was turned aside by a diving Brian Salazar.
 
Hobart opened the scoring in the 42nd minute on senior Binjo Emmanuel's second goal of the season. Senior Nick Wigglesworth served a free kick from near midfield into the box that was headed away by a Vassar defender. Emmanuel picked up the loose ball and fired a shot from 20 yards out into the upper left corner of the cage.
 
The Statesmen doubled their lead in the 55th minute. From 25 yards out, junior August Martini blasted a free kick just over the Vassar wall and into the upper corner of the net. His second goal of the season was unassisted.  Four minutes later, junior Kyle Mangold collected his third goal of the season to give Hobart a 3-0 lead. Senior Nate Cary was credited with an assist on the goal. Cary forced a turnover near midfield, carried the ball into the box, drew the goalie off his line and slid a pass to Mangold.  Mangold fired a shot into the empty cage.
 
Vassar had a pair of chances late in the game but could not solve Hobart's defense.
 
The Statesmen finished the game with a 15-7 edge in shots and an 8-3 advantage in corner kicks.
 
Senior Brian Salazar made two saves in 80 minutes in goal for Hobart. Sophomore Stephen Combs stopped two shots in the final 10 minutes. Eric Wnorowski played all 90 minutes in goal for Vassar and made four saves.
 
Hobart will be back in action next Friday, Oct. 18, when it travels to Troy, N.Y., to take on Rensselaer. The game is scheduled to start at 4 p.m.