Box Score

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (September 23, 2009)—Meredith Stuart scored the first goal 12:56 into the game and Melissa Berardi added an insurance goal late in the second half as Western Connecticut State defeated Vassar College 2-0 in non-league field hockey action at Weinberg Field.

Vassar drops to 2-6 with the loss and will begin Liberty League play this weekend at Skidmore College on Friday, before traveling to Union on Saturday. The win improves Western Connecticut State to 2-6. The Colonials will begin Little East Conference play Saturday at Plymouth State.

Vassar controlled the pace for much of the first half, frequently pressuring WestConn goalie Heather Stone. Vassar sophomore Katy Hwang nearly struck first blood as her shot eight minutes into the game was batted down by Stone in front of the net.

However, it was the Colonials who struck first, as Stuart added the game's first goal nearly 13 minutes into the contest. Stuart netted her second goal of the season as she won the ball in the middle of the shooting circle and slipped a shot through the pack of defenders and attackers past Vassar goalie Rachel Clarkin-Breslin. Stuart's goal remained the only tally of the contest until Berardi scored her team-leading fourth goal of the season with just under two minutes remaining in the game.

Although falling behind early, the Brewers kept the pressure on Stone. Sophomore Emily Maier recorded a team-leading three shots, as part of a 10 shot Vassar offensive output. Hwang had two shots in the game and used her speed and stick skills to keep the pressure on the WestConn defense throughout the afternoon.

Despite the lack of results, Vassar fought hard to the bitter end, earning three of their seven penalty corners with fewer than ten minutes to play. However, the Brewers were unable to turn the opportunities into shots.

Stone recorded three saves in the shutout, while the Vassar goalie tandem of Clarkin-Breslin and Rachel Horwitz saved five shots. Clarkin-Breslin stopped three tough shots in the first half, including a magnificent save while falling down on a breakaway by WestConn forward Valerie Lupo, who had a game-high five shots. Horwitz recorded two saves in the second half after taking over at halftime for Clarkin-Breslin.

WestConn out-shot Vassar 12-10 in the game, with each side registering four second-half shots.