GENEVA, NY -- Rookie Brendan Gorman had the game winning goal and an assist to lead the St. Lawrence University men's soccer team to the Liberty League tournament title and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament as the Saints celebrated a 2-0 victory over Union College on Saturday afternoon in Geneva, NY.
 
The Saints, who were the third seed in the tournament, improved to 12-6-1 overall with the win, while the fourth-seeded Dutchmen fall to 11-3-4.

In addition to Gorman's efforts, senior forward Kiel Dwyer tallied the insurance goal, while senior midfielder and co-captain Paul LaMarca assisted the game winner.

Gorman was recognized for his tournament-winning goal and his two assists as he was named the Tournament's most valuable player. In addition to Gorman, three members of the Saints team were named to the All-Conference Team, including Coletta, rookie Sean Scott and senior midfielder and co-captain Ryan Moore.

St. Lawrence opened the game with clear control as they applied intense pressure to the Dutchmen's defense and had several great chances to score in the first minutes of play. The Scarlet and Brown was rewarded for their efforts as they scored the eventual game winner early in the 10th minute of the contest.  Junior midfielder Reed Carr fed the ball to the left wing from the top of the box where LaMarca served it to an awaiting Gorman just outside the six.  The rookie crossed it in front of Union keeper Rob Kramer to the far corner to give the Saints a 1-0 edge.

Union took three shots in the first 45 minutes of play and had a great chance with just over eight minutes to play, as Dutchmen Alan Fox took a free kick about 35 yards out.  The senior midfielder sent it sailing over traffic and into the hands of Saints' senior keeper and co-captain Emilio Coletta, who held onto the ball despite a collision with a Union forward at the top of the six.

St. Lawrence held an advantage in shots (10-3), shots on goal (5-2) and corners (4-1) in the first period, while both keepers recorded saves, as Coletta made two and Kramer collected four.

In the second half, the Dutchmen gained momentum early and put the Saints' defensive end of the field to work as they pressured their way towards goal.  In the 60th minute, Union had three back-to-back corner chances but was unsuccessful in finding the back of the net on all three as St. Lawrence cleared the ball and put it back into play.

The teams exchanged possession throughout the remainder of the contest and each had their own opportunities, but each keeper came up big as the final minutes approached.  Dwyer's goal came in the 88th minute after Gorman crossed him the ball and the senior rifled it into the net past Kramer from 15 yards out to secure the Saints' victory.

In total, the Saints held an overall advantage in shots (17-11), shots on goal (9-3), and a slight edge in corners (5-4).  The physicality of the game brought six yellow cards, two in Saints.  Coletta earned the shutout with three total saves, while Kramer tallied seven.

Since the inception of the Liberty League, St. Lawrence has either won the conference regular season title or the tournament title every year, but never both in the same season.  They will wait to hear who they will play in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament as the field will be announced early Monday in the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Selection Show.