Box Score

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (September 9, 2014) – Senior Enya Cunningham (Stroudsburg, PA/Stroudsburg) scored on a penalty stroke just 2:52 into overtime as the Vassar College field hockey team stayed perfect with a 1-0 victory over Kean University Tuesday evening from Weinberg Field.

The senior was able to play the hero for Vassar (4-0) thanks to some of the best defensive work of the season. The visiting Cougars (3-2) came into the contest averaging over four goals per game, but the Brewers were up to task the entire night, holding KU scoreless while posting its third shutout of the season.

It wasn't easy though, as Kean threatened early on in the game, and nearly scored 10 minutes into the game. Kean's Bridgette Bottinelli deflected a shot in front, but junior Amreen Bhasin (Cresskill, NJ/Riverdale) was there to kick the ball away.

Vassar College had its best opportunity of the first half in the 25^th minute of the game, as sophomore defender Sophie Arnold (Merion, PA/Lower Marion) snuck forward and had two point-blank, back-to-back shots saved by Kean keeper Katie DiCarlo.

Late in the half, Vassar false started on three straight penalty corners, leaving just two defenders and Bhasin to defend the net. Vassar held strong and kept KU to only one shot that went wide right of the cage. At the half, the Cougars had earned seven of the game's eight corners and also led the shot totals, 5-3.

After the break, Kean nearly opened the scoring again 49:16 into the game but Arnold was there to parry a shot off the goal line. Vassar College benefited from five Cougar cards during the game, including a five-minute yellow card advantage, but couldn't score as the game went to overtime deadlocked at zero.

In the extra period, the Brewers looked like the fresher team, despite playing the entire game with just one substitute. After a nice play by Cunningham and the VC defense to clear the zone in overtime, senior Hilary McDonnell (Blue Bell, PA/The Springside School) intercepted a re-entry pass down the left sideline.

The senior defender made a perfect outlet to the middle to junior Bianca Zarrella (Leominster, MA/Leominster), who took advantage of the open field due to the overtime seven-on-seven rules. Zarrella charged down the middle of the field, driving towards net while sending a pass over to sophomore Hayley Beach (Latham, NY/Shaker).

As the ball went to Beach, DiCarlo fell on top of the ball and the officials whistled a penalty stroke. Cunningham, a team captain, sprinted forward to take the stroke and calmly deposited the ball in the upper right side of the cage for the win. For Cunningham, it was her first goal of the season and first tally since her sophomore season.

The story though for Vassar was its defense, which has now allowed just one goal and four shots on cage the entire season. Vassar has also not allowed a goal in the last 2:20.31 of game action, spanning four contests. The penalty stroke goal was the Brewers first since Anna Schroeder netted a goal last year at Rochester.

VC was outshot on the night, 9-6, and also allowed 11 penalty corners to the three for Vassar. Bhasin finished with one save on the night for the Brewers, while DiCarlo made four in net for KU.

The Brewers finished a four-game home stand to start the season Tuesday, and will now head to Brockport, NY for a pair of games this weekend. Vassar will take on host SUNY Brockport Friday at 4 p.m. before battling SUNY Geneseo Saturday at 1 p.m. in non-conference action.