SCHENECTADY, NY (October 23, 2015) – Despite outshooting host Union College 29-9, the Vassar College field hockey team dropped a 2-1 decision to the Dutchwomen in Liberty League action from Frank Bailey Field Friday evening.

With the loss, Vassar College (9-5, 2-3 Liberty League) must defeat Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Saturday afternoon to qualify for the Liberty League Tournament. Any other result would end in VC missing the postseason tournament for the first time in three years.

Vassar held possession during the early going, taking the game's first four shots, but Dutchwoman goalkeeper Laura Aptowicz made two shots to keep the game knotted at zero. On Union's first penalty corner of the came, UC (6-9, 1-5 Liberty) opened the scoring on the first of two Laura Pacheco goals in the first half.

With the score 1-0 in favor of the hosts, VC ratcheted up the pressure again and were awarded four penalty corners over the next 13 minutes. VC was unable to convert on any of the corners, and Pacheco again tallied for her seventh of the season on the second assist of the afternoon by Rachel Andreana.

The Brewers controlled the tempo for nearly the entirety of the second half, and were finally rewarded at the 58:48 mark of regulation. On the play, Vassar senior Lauren Wiebe (Chicago, IL/Francis W. Parker) inserted on a corner and senior Bianca Zarrella (Leominster, MA/Leominster) popped in her own rebound to pull VC to within one at 2-1.

Vassar nearly deadlocked the score at two with just over three minutes to play in regulation, but Aptowicz stopped three consecutive shots from point blank range to deny Vassar. The Dutchwoman would hang on from that point, giving Vassar its third straight loss within conference play.

The Brewers held a huge 14-3 advantage in penalty corners on the day, but Union made the most of its corner opportunities, scoring on two of those. Vassar College put 15 of its shots on goal, as Aptowicz made 14 saves on the evening. Vassar College freshman keeper Paige Amico (Carlsbad, CA/La Costa Canyon) stopped three shots.

Zarrella and junior Lauren Shumate (Encinitas, CA/San Dieguito Academy) each posted five shots apiece, while freshman Megan Caveny (Cicero, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) added four shots and a team-high three attempts on net.

The Brewers will return to home Saturday for the first time since knocking off then No. 5 William Smith College back on October 3. VC will honor its three seniors with Senior Day activities just prior to the contest with RPI, which is set for a 3 p.m. start on Weinberg Field.