SCHENECTADY, N.Y. - First-year Marco Perugini's 26th minute goal would be the difference in the Union College men's soccer team's victory over Skidmore College Tuesday night, clinching a playoff spot for the Garnet Chargers for the first time since 2015.
 
Following a goal kick from first-year Paul Agne, junior Ethan Klopfer sent a pass down the field into the midfield attacking zone. Perugini made a run towards the net from the left side right as senior Robbie Michalski set up and played a header to push the ball into the attacking zone. A Skidmore defender beat Perugini to the ball and attempted to clear it, but Perugini blocked it and took a shot, putting the ball just inside the far side right post to give Union the 1-0 lead.
 
The goal came less than two minutes after Perugini pushed a header inches wide of the right post off a pass from sophomore Grant Della Rocca. 40 seconds after his goal, Perugini fired again, this one just above the crossbar, and three minutes later, attempted another shot, a dominant stretch for the first-year in an impressive half of play.
 
Union had their way in the first half, outshooting Skidmore 8-5. Skidmore only put two shots on net in the first half, with both coming from outside the 18-yard box and easily stopped by Agne. 68% of Union's possession was in their offensive half of the field, with 38% of that possession in their furthermost attacking quarter.
 
Skidmore battled back in the second, outshooting Union 8-4 while maintaining possession for over 60% of the half. Union faced immense pressure playing a man down over the last 15 minutes and nine seconds, but the Thoroughbreds only managed two shots on goal in that time. Agne's best stop of the evening came with less than nine seconds left in the contest, coming on to make a diving save of a shot fired off a cross just feet in front of his line. The first-year registered six saves in the contest, posting his fifth clean sheet of the season.

Perugini paced the Garnet Chargers with four shots, all coming in that six minute stretch in the first half. Michalski, senior Luca Richo, and junior Wyatt Goldfisher each followed with two apiece.
 
The victory clinches Union's first postseason berth since 2015, while the fifth Liberty League victory of the season is the program's most since 2012.
 
Union currently sits tied in second place with St. Lawrence with 16 points apiece heading into the final day of the regular season on Saturday. They'll have an opportunity to clinch a first-round bye in the Liberty League postseason for the first time in program history when they travel to Clarkson for the regular season finale on Saturday, with kickoff set for 2:00 PM.