Box Score

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (August 29, 2014) – Junior forward Lauren Wiebe (Chicago, IL/Francis W. Parker) netted two second-half goals as the Vassar College field hockey team opened the 2014 campaign with a 4-1 win over visiting Colby-Sawyer College in non-conference action from Weinberg Field.

The Brewers (1-0) pressured early and often over the opening 10 minutes of the contest, hemming the visiting Chargers in their own end. VC took the first seven shots of the contest before finally getting on the board at the 9:36 mark of the opening half.

Junior Bianca Zarrella (Leominster, MA/Leominster) dribbled towards the top of the box, passing to sophomore Emma Bracken (Alexandria, VA/T.C. Williams). The pass was fumbled by an opposing player, and Bracken was there to knock it past Charger keeper Jodi Dumayne for an early 1-0 lead.

VC continued to stay on Colby-Sawyer, outshooting the Chargers 16-2 in the opening stanza. Just before the halftime intermission, Vassar would double its lead thanks to a nice combination play from two of its younger players. Freshman Storm Sideleau (Hopkinton, NH/Kimball Union Academy) carried the ball on the end line, laying it off for sophomore Hayley Beach (Latham, NY/Shaker). Beach one-timed the shot into the left side of the cage for her third career tally.

After intermission, Vassar's 2013 leading goal scorer potted her first of the season, deflecting a shot from Zarrella that was destined for the left post. Nearly 10 minutes later at 47:08 of the contest, the Brewers tallied for the fourth time of the day. Off of a corner, Bracken took a shot from the top of the circle that was smothered by Dumayne's right pad. As she lifted her foot, Wiebe was there to sweep in the loose ball for her 15^th career tally.

The Chargers got on the board off of an interesting play off a restart near the Vassar bench. Following the restart, Paige Viens looked to dribble past sophomore Christina Yang (Singapore/UW College SE Asia), but the ball jumped up into her chest. The play was allowed to continue, and Olivia Thurber knocked the loose ball into the net to make the score 4-1.

That was as close as the Chargers would get, as Vassar closed the contest for the victory. VC outshot its visitors 37-3 Friday afternoon, earning all but one of the game's 10 penalty corner. Dumayne made 16 saves for Colby-Sawyer, while Ashley LaMere (Ballston Spa, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston) made one defensive stop for Vassar.

"The squad played really well and I thought our connections on our passes were crisp," said Zarrella. "I think we can take a lot of positives away from today, especially our drive and determination."

Vassar College is back in action next Friday afternoon, taking on Thomas College at 7:45 p.m. on Weinberg Field in the opening round of the Betty Richey Tournament.