Box Score                   TROY, NY – The Vassar College field hockey team, coming off a 2-0 win over Union College Saturday in which it sealed a spot in the Liberty League Tournament, fell to Rensselaer Polytecnic Institute 1-0 Wednesday in the final conference game of the year for the Brewers.

                  Despite the loss, VC (9-5/3-3 Liberty League) still will take part in postseason conference play for the first time in school history. The Brewers never could get things going Wednesday, as the RPI defense held strong for the entirety of the 70 minutes.

                  The host Engineers (4-7/1-4 Liberty) jumped out quickly, taking the contest's first six shots. On that sixth attempt, RPI's Molly Zuk tipped a pass from Kierstan Ryan past Vassar keeper Maggie Brelis (Cambridge, MA/BB&N) for the eventually game-winner.

                  The Brewers picked up the intensity in the second half, taking seven of their eight shots during the closing period. 54 minutes into the contest, the Brewers had back-to-back penalty corners, but an attempt from Bianca Zarrella (Leominster, MA/Leominster) was saved.

                  Later in the period, Zarrella had another opportunity after inserting on a corner, but her attempt was again saved. Down the stretch, Vassar owned possession, but a late shot from Anna Schroeder (Saratoga, CA/Saratoga) was blocked, ending the contest.

                  Brelis finished with four saves for the Brewers, as she extended her streak of allowing just one of fewer goals in a game to six. Zarrella had a game-best three shots on goal, while three other players fired one shot for Vassar. RPI's Hannah Clough made four saves in recording the shutout. The Engineers took 10 of the 18 shots on the game, though Vassar earned seven penalty corners to the four of RPI.

                  The loss snaps the program-record five-match winning streak, dating back to September 28, and also marked only the second time all season Vassar has been shutout (1-0 L, at Kean University, 9/19/13). On the year, Vassar has five losses by a total of five goals.

                  The Brewers will look to rebound with a non-conference game Saturday at 1 p.m. at Ramapo College.