ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, NY – The Union College men's soccer team opened Liberty League play with an 8-0 shutout of Bard College on Saturday.

It was the fourth consecutive clean sheet for the Dutchmen, who improved to 5-3-1 overall, 1-0 in the Liberty League.

Kevin Janson got the scoring started in the 11th minute when he beat Bard keeper Taylor Bond on a penalty kick after a Union player was brought down in the box. Ethan Strauss made it 2-0 in the 30th minute with a pretty goal from the top of the box. Strauss moved toward the top of the box to his left and struck a left shot that was perfectly placed in the upper left corner.

Will Poetzsch made it 3-0 just before halftime with a rocket of a shot that beat Bond to the far post. A corner kick was corralled and passed out to Poetzsch by Sam Hunter, and Poetzsch didn't miss from just beyond the 18.

In the second half, Carl Faber scored back-to-back goals (59th minute, 77th minute) to make it 5-0, and the Dutchmen added three goals over a span of 110 seconds in the last few minutes of the game. Kyle Stengel and Matthew Gomes scored, and an own goal in between made it 8-0.

Ryan Carter made two saves for Union. The Dutchmen have not allowed a goal in 384 minutes, 13 seconds.

Union begins a three game homestand with Liberty League games Friday vs. St. Lawrence and Saturday vs. Clarkson.