ALFRED, NY—The AU men's soccer team celebrated Senior Night in style with a 4-1 win over Union College.
 
The night didn't begin according to plan for the Saxons (9-5-2 Empire 8 3-1-1), who allowed a Union goal in the 4^th minute off an impressive play that lead to header for Carl Faber.  The Dutchmen would continue to control the ball in the early going, earning another threatening chance.  The chance came in the 11^th minute when the ball was sent into the box to Faber again, who turned and volleyed the ball on net.  Luckily, freshman keeper Chris Gutierrez (Holbrook, NY/Sachem East) was in perfect position to deny the opportunity and keep the goal differential to one.
 
The Saxons got on the board in the 25^th minute when senior Jeff Thomas (Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua) took advantage of a Dutchmen misstep that lead to a break away he wrapped around the keeper for the equalizing goal.  Just over five minutes later it was another senior, Brendan Collins (Tompkins Cove, NY/St. Thomas More), adding to the Saxon effort when Thomas hit him on a through ball that he blasted passed the Union keeper giving the Saxons the lead.
 
With the lead in hand the Saxons continued to attack before half time.  The next chance came by way of Collins again who attempted to volley the ball in this time, but he was denied.  Soon after, senior Ivan Capitan-Carro (Baynot, Spain) tried to get in on the action when he took advantage of a deflected ball off the Union defense for a break away.  However, keeper Ryan Carter made a kick save to deny what would surely been another Saxon goal.  The half would end, 2-1.
 
Following intermission the game became a bout between two powerful midfields, with neither giving an inch to the other.  Finally, in the 64^th minute, the Saxons broke the Union ranks when Capitan-Carro threaded a poetic ball into the box past multiple defensemen and the Union keeper only to find the toe of the sliding Omar Mohamed (Rochester, NY/Edison) who found twine and earned a much needed insurance goal for the Saxons.  Two minutes later, James Piombino (Ballston Spa, NY/Ballston Spa) looked to put the game away when he gobbled up a loose ball in the box from an AU corner kick and found enough room to slip the ball into the goal.  Saxons took the lead, 4-1, and would not relinquish another score.
 
However, this was not lack for trying for the Dutchmen who continued to play hard through the last minutes of the game.  The best chance came for Union in the 82^nd minute when Alex Kirsch broke into the box for a one-on-one chance with Gutierrez, but Gutierrez denied the first shot.  Kirsch attempted again with a second chance, but Gutierrez refused to concede a goal with a masterful save.  The game would end soon after giving AU its ninth win on the season.
 
Gutierrez finished the evening with seven saves for the Saxons.  Corner kicks were even with three apiece. 
 
The Saxons return to Empire 8 play on Saturday, Oct., 25^th when they travel to Stevens to take on the Ducks.