POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (October 14, 2014) – A day after the Vassar College field hockey earned its first appearance receiving votes in the Penn Monto/National Field Hockey Coaches Association National Coaches Poll, the Brewers will head to Schenectady, NY looking to build on their undefeated record in the Liberty League against Union College at 6 p.m. Wednesday. Vassar College is coming off a very strong weekend, knocking off previously ranked William Smith College 2-0 Friday, as well as No. 13 University of Rochester 2-1 Saturday.

Game Details
Opponent: Union College (4-7, 0-3 Liberty League)
Links: (Union Field Hockey Home Page) (Roster) (Stats) (Schedule)
Site: Schenectady, NY
Facility:  Frank Bailey Field
Date: October 15, 2014
Time:  6 p.m.
Coverage: (Live Video) (Live Stats)

What To Look For
The Brewers so far this season have been perfect in true road games, but have only played two of their 12 contests in actual road contests.  Last season after the Brewers clinched a Liberty League playoff spot, Vassar struggled on the road in its next contest, a 1-0 loss at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

As of right now, the University of Rochester and William Smith College have earned spots in the postseason, while Brewers need one more Liberty League win to clinch a spot in the postseason playoffs. The only other team that can make the Tournament is Union College. If UC wins out and either VC or Skidmore College lose its remaining conference games, then the Dutchwomen could still find a spot in the bracket. If the Brewers win Wednesday, they would ensure themselves a spot and also clinch at least a No. 3 seed in the Tournament. Two more wins in conference play would secure at least one home game come Liberty League postseason play.

A Look At The Dutchwomen
Union College comes into Wednesday's contest with the Brewers having alternated wins and losses over the last seven games. The last time out, Union fell on the road to Western New England University 3-2. The Dutchwomen have been in most of their games this season, but haven't been able to pull out the close contests, falling four times by two goals or less. The last conference game at home for Union came October 4 against William Smith, as the Herons squeaked by UC 3-2.

The home turf of Frank Bailey Field can be tough on opposition, as it is lined for football, soccer, lacrosse and field hockey. Union has been able to score goals this year, ranking fourth in the conference in tallies with 29, but has allowed the second-most goals in the League this year with 23. Sarah Medd ranks tied for sixth in the Liberty League in goals scored with seven, while Alexa Steriti and teammate Hannah Najar have each dished out four assists apiece to lead the Dutch. Union keeper Laura Aptowitz is fifth in the conference in saves with 63.  Jessie Mulvey is second on the team with five goals and also is tied for the team-lead with 14 points, and Laura Pacheco also has four goals as well. Union College is the only team in the conference without a defensive save this season, though both Aptowitz and Danika Hornick have combined to make 76 in the net. Union has earned six more penalty corners this year than its opponents (99-93), and also has been awarded a whopping five penalty strokes, making three.

Against Union All-Time
Dating back to 1988, the Vassar College field hockey team is 7-19 against the Dutchwomen, but since 2000 the series has been a lot more even. After UC won the first 12 games over that span, the Brewers have gone 7-7 against their foes from the north, including earning a 2-0 win last year on Weinberg Field.

For The First Time
The Brewers earned their first ever appearance in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Poll this past week, securing 66 votes while placing No. 23 in the rankings.

On Your Own Merritt
Junior Haley Merritt (East Northport, NY/Northport) earned her first-ever Liberty League Performer of the Week honor Monday, as she helped VC to a pair of wins last weekend with a game-winner over William Smith and an assist against Rochester.

Third Times The Charm
The Liberty League honored Enya Cunningham (Stroudsburg, PA/Stroudsburg) as the Defensive Performer of the Week after she helped the Brewers allow just one goal on the weekend, scoring a penalty stroke in the waning moments against Rochester.

Major Midfield
The midfield lately has been fantastic for the Brewers, helping slant the run of play towards the opposing net. Junior Bianca Zarrella (Leominster, MA/Leominster), along with sophomores Emma Bracken (Alexandria, VA/T.C. Williams) and Lauren Shumate (Encinitas, CA/San Dieguito Academy), have been great with the ball at their sticks.

Super Six
The Brewers currently have the program's longest win strong going, earning six consecutive wins since their only defeat against SUNY Geneseo September 13.

Gone Goals
Vassar College has been dynamite this season on defense, and if you subtract the road game at Western Connecticut, Vassar College has allowed just six goals in 11 games. Even with that contest, Vassar is ranked in the top five in goals against average with a 0.75 clip.

Record Watch
- With one more goal, Lauren Wiebe (Chicago, IL/Francis W. Parker) moves in 4TH all-time in goals at Vassar with 22.
- With one more point, Lauren Wiebe moves into a tied for 6TH all-time in points.
- With one more game-winning goal, Lauren Wiebe becomes all-time leader in that category with six.
- With one more win, the team moves in 2ND in season wins with 12.
- With one more penalty stroke made, Enya Cunningham becomes all-time leader in that category.
- With one more win, Amreen Bhasin (Cresskill, NJ/Riverdale) moves into tie for 2ND all-time in career wins.
- With one more assist, Storm Sideleau (Hopkinton, NH/Kimball Union Academy) moves into tie for 3RD in single-season assists.

Shots From Everywhere
The Vassar attack has coming from many different places this season, as eight different players have taken 10 more shots on the season.

Déjà vu
On Saturday, the Brewers knocked off their second ranked opponent in the last two seasons with a win over No. 13 Rochester. Strangely, the last win over a ranked team came on the exact same date in 2013, over Skidmore College who was ranked, you guessed it, No. 13.

Up Next
The Brewers get the weekend off after Wednesday's game and have nine days to prepare for a weekend road trip to St. Lawrence University (October 24, 4 p.m.) and No. 11 Skidmore College (October 25, 2 p.m.) to conclude conference action in 2014.