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POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (October 11, 2014) – In fitting style, senior Enya Cunningham (Stroudsburg, PA/Stroudsburg) scored on a penalty stroke with 3:06 remaining in regulation, lifting the Brewer field hockey team past No. 13 University of Rochester 2-1 in Liberty League play on Senior Day from Weinberg Field.

The victory marked Vassar's sixth straight win, which is the longest of the season and established a new program record for consecutive triumphs. The win was also the first over the University of Rochester since the 2002 season, a span of 13 games. Vassar (11-1, 3-0 Liberty League) also beat a ranked opponent for the second time in two seasons Saturday, knocking off Skidmore College exactly one year ago today when the Thoroughbreds were also ranked No. 13 in the nation.

The contest started in fine fashion, as the team celebrated the careers of Cunningham and fellow senior Hilary McDonnell (Blue Bell, PA/The Springside School) in a pregame ceremony. The Brewers would then test Rochester keeper Tara Lamberti early, but she was up to the task making three saves in the opening seven minutes.

Rochester (12-2, 4-1 Liberty) posted its best chance of the first half, as Michelle Relin hurdled downfield and fired a shot that just missed the left post. After that, Vassar regained control and forced Lamberti to make another four saves. At the end of the half, the Yellowjacket keeper would have eight stops to her credit.

Vassar College finally broke the stalemate with three minutes to go in the first half off of a penalty corner. Junior Bianca Zarrella (Leominster, MA/Leominster) fired a shot that was deflected by Haley Merritt (East Northport, NY/Northport). Merritt gathered the ball and pushed it to Hayley Beach (Latham, NY/Shaker), who tallied her sixth goal of the season to put VC up 1-0.

The Brewers led in shots at the half 12-3, and also had six of the game's eight penalty corners at the break. After the half, both teams had chances but both Lamberti and VC keeper Amreen Bhasin (Cresskill, NJ/Riverdale) were flawless. With 61:20 on the clock though the Yellowjackets would equalize as Megan Keil pushed home a pass from Gina Cunningham for her fifth goal of the year.

Sensing overtime, the Brewers began to push the issue, and with just over three minutes to play, Zarrella was fouled in the circle and VC was awarded a penalty stroke. Cunningham came forward, and though her stroke was mishit, it had enough to sneak under Lamberti for the game-winner.

The Brewers finished on top in the shot category 20-7, also holding a 9-4 advantage in penalty corners. Lamberti finished with 13 saves for Rochester, while Bhasin added three stops in the win for Vassar. VC concludes its home regular season schedule 9-0, and ranks in the top six nationally in current home winning streak with nine consecutive victories.

The Liberty League-leading Brewers will continue conference action Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. against the Dutchwomen of Union College in Schenectady, NY.