Box Score

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (September 2, 2009) – Hartwick College spoiled the debut of new Vassar field hockey coach Cara Dunn on Wednesday afternoon, scoring three unanswered goals en route to a 5-2 victory in the season opener for both teams. 

Vassar drops to 0-1 on the season and next travels to Kean College on Saturday, September 5 for a 5:00 p.m. game. Hartwick will face Scranton in its home opener also on Saturday. 

Despite a workmanlike afternoon in which the Brewers had 17 penalty corners compared to seven for Harwick, Vassar fell behind 4-1 with 15 minutes to play in the second half and didn't have enough fire power to make the complete comeback. 

Hartwick got on the board first, getting a goal from junior forward Jen Kaye 9:37 into the game. Kaye capitalized on a long shot from sophomore forward Brittany Baughman; the ball was deflected by Kay who slipped past the Vassar defense and slid the ball past Vassar junior goalie Rachel Horwitz.
The Brewers evened the score at 1-1 three minutes later, at 12:20, when senior Jordan Friedmann took a feed from fellow senior Jennie McAllister along the right side and poked the ball past Hartwick goalie Mackenzie Chapman. 

The Hawks would control the first half, outshooting the Brewers 10-3 and headed into intermission with a 2-1 lead following a goal by senior forward Samantha Galm. Kay figured into the scoring tally again, dishing the ball from the baseline to Galm in the center of the crease who knocked it past Horwitz. 

Both teams battled heartily for the first 15 minutes of the second half with each goalie making numerous key saves to keep the contest close. Hartwick broke through for the eventual game winner when freshman forward Kelsey Kimble knocked home a loose ball in front of the Vassar goal for a 3-1 lead. The Hawks would push ahead 4-1 following Galm's second goal of the game, a opportunistic tally straight on net. 

The Brewers, who had 11 shots in the second half, wouldn't quit, getting their second goal of the game from sophomore Katy Hwang, who scored her goal from the left side of the post off a nifty feed from Maura McCarthy with nine minutes remaining. 

Hartwick added a late goal with 12 seconds left, coming from Baughman off a baseline driving shot. 

Horwitz, who made several impressive saves in the opening 15 minutes of the second half, had a career-high nine saves and faced 23 Hartwick shots. Hawks goalie Chapman made eight saves on 14 Vassar shots.