POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (November 2, 2015) - The Vassar College field hockey team will head to Geneva, NY on Wednesday evening at 7 p.m., looking to earn its first Liberty League Tournament victory in program history against the sixth-ranked Herons of William Smith College. The winner of Wednesday evening's game will play in the Liberty League Championship Saturday, taking on the winner of the other semifinal between Skidmore College and the University of Rochester in Rochester, NY.

Vassar finished its regular season on a three-game winning streak, dispatching of the University of Scranton Wednesday before knocking off New Paltz Saturday 2-1. The Brewers have already played William Smith once this season, handing the Herons one of just their two losses on the season back on October 3 with a 3-1 Brewer victory.

Game Details
Opponent: at No. 6 William Smith College (15-2, 5-1 Liberty League) - Liberty League Tournament
Links: (William Smith's Field Hockey Home Page) (Roster) (Stats) (Schedule)
Site: Geneva, NY
Facility: H.J. McCooey Memorial Field
Date: November 2, 2015
Time: 7 p.m.
Coverage: (Live Stats) (Live Video) (Live Audio)

What To Look For
The first goal in any game is important for sure, but in field hockey and with momentum such a huge factor, getting on the scoreboard first Wednesday will be paramount. The Brewers this season were 10-0 this year when scoring first, while posting a 2-5 mark when the opposition was first to get on the board. The Herons have not struggled to score goals this year, and are 12-0 when posting the first tally of the game. In contrast, William Smith is just 3-2 when having to come from behind this year.

A Look At The Herons (15-2, 5-1 Liberty)
The Herons come into the Liberty League Tournament off a 4-1 loss at Messiah College on Saturday, only their second defeat of the year. Much of the success for the Herons this year has come thanks to their stellar and potent offense, which ranks 10^th in the country in goals per game with 3.94. William Smith also has the second-best points per game and assists per game averages in the Liberty League, while its scoring margin of 2.43 is 18^th best in NCAA Division III field hockey. William Smith also plays very well on McCooey Field, going 11-0 this season on its home turf. The Herons are looking to earn their sixth Liberty League title this week, with the last coming in 2012 when WSC hosted the NCAA Championships.

Individually, the offense has been led by Hannah Wood and Alessandra Patrizio, who have combined for 44 goals this season. Wood has posted 54 points this year on 24 goals and six assists, ranking fourth in the NCAA in goals per game while sitting in fifth in points per game with 3.25 points per game. Patrizio also ranks in the top 15 in goals per game and points per game as well, while Cydney Conley and Maura Moran each have eight assists to lead the squad. Madison Finn has a Liberty League-high eight defensive saves, ranking 21^st in the nation in that category, while Biz Chirco has made 59 saves in cage to lead the Herons.

Against William Smith All-Time
Vassar College is 2-14 all-time against the Herons of William Smith, but those two wins have come during each of the last two seasons. VC last played in Geneva in 2013, a 2-1 overtime victory for the Herons.

Dozen Dubs
This season, the Brewers have posted 12 wins so far, which is the second-most wins in a season every for a Vassar team behind only the 13 from back in 2000.

Clutch Shu
Junior defender Lauren Shumate (Encinitas, CA/San Dieguito Academy) has scored three goals this year, but all three have been game-winners as she leads the team in that category.

We Must Protect This Turf
The Brewers completed their second straight season of being undefeated on Weinberg Field Saturday against New Paltz, marking the 18^th straight win at home for VC.

Can't Tear The Paige
Freshman goalkeeper Paige Amico (Carlsbad, CA/La Costa Canyon) set the single-season record for wins in a campaign with 12 this past weekend, besting the previous record of 11 set last year.

A Storm Brewin'
Sophomore Storm Sideleau (Contoocook, NH/Kimball Union Academy) is fourth on the team in goals this year with five, and her goals have all come at a huge time. Sideleau has posted one game-winner, while also chalking up two goals that have tied a game and also one that was the margin of victory, though not awarded as a game-winner in NCAA field hockey.

Gimme', Gimme' More
Freshman Alyssa More (Wilmington, DE/Mount Pleasant) has shown her versatility this season, as she started the year as a forward, played most of the season at wing, but lately has been great as an outside back for the Brewers. With VC down Saturday against New Paltz, More returned to the forward line as VC rallied for the win.

Youse In The House
The defensive unit has been very strong lately, allowing just one goal over its last 210 minutes of action. Freshman Molly Youse (New Cumberland, PA/Cedar Cliff) shook off an early season injury to start all 13 games she's played in, coming off the field for just nine minutes against Brockport.

Feeley Good
This year, the Brewers have gone 10-2 in games that Monica Feeley (Harrisburg, PA/Susquehanna Township) has started.

You're Cornered
Vassar has posted 173 penalty corners this season, while surrendering just 72 on the year.

Rubix Cubell
Head coach Michael Warari has shown a ton of confidence in freshman back Haley Cubell (Lititz, PA/Manheim Township), who enters the playoffs having played in all 17 games, earning 16 starts while playing in the third-most minutes (1003) on the team behind goalie Paige Amico (1190) and star sweeper Lauren Shumate (1090).

Hey Arnold
Junior defender Sophie Arnold (Merion, PA/Lower Merion) has posted five defensive saves this year, which is tied for the seventh-most ever at VC for a single season. Arnold has eight for her career, tied for fifth on the all-time list for Vassar.

Bird Down
This season, the Brewers are 4-1 against teams with mascots that are of the avian variety. Vassar has won games against Hawks, Herons, Roadrunners, Eagles, while falling to the Red Hawks of Montclair State.