BRADENTON, FL (March 17, 2015) – Stevenson University's Olivia Monteiro scored a hat trick in the first half, while a three-goal spurt in the second half helped the Mustangs secure a 9-7 victory over Vassar Tuesday morning. Stevenson never trailed in the game, and converted four of nine free position to help earn the win. Vassar senior Kate Pula (Washington Township, NJ/ Immaculate Heart Academy) had a season-high 13 saves to keep the Brewers in the game, but VC came up just short to move to 1-2 on the season. Stevenson improves to 4-3 with the win.

Stevenson took an early edge in the first half, as Monteiro and junior Tori Wagner scored a pair of goals in the first five minutes. The Brewers responded at the 20:44 mark, as senior Dara Davis (Guilford, CT/Guilford) netted her first of the game to make it 2-1.

Monteiro put away another chance with 18:46 to play, but less than a minute later sophomore Julia Trudell (Newton,CT/Newtown) buried a shot off a feed from junior Isabelle Goldstein (Belmont, MA/Belmont) to bring the Brewers within one, 3-2. Monteiro completed her hat trick with her third goal of the game at the 7:51 mark, but a free position goal from Goldstein with just over a minute to play had the Brewers down just one at the break.

VC had a strong start in the second half, as sophomore Brittany Botticelli (Commack, NY/Commack) tied the game at four with 28:26 on the clock. Vassar could not maintain its momentum, as a three-goal scoring streak from the Mustangs between the 22:54 and 20:34 minute marks pushed their lead to three.

Down 7-4, VC remained in it to the very end, as Davis notched her second of the day off a feed from Goldstein with 16:27 left on the clock. Stevenson again had an answer on a free position goal from Tori Bruno at the 16:09 mark, before freshman Storm Sideleau (Hopkinton, NH/Kimball Union Academy) cut the deficit to two with her third goal of the year at the 11:53 mark.

A goal from Bradey Heher made it 9-6 Mustangs with 11:29 to play, and Vassar could not convert on a number of opportunities in the final 10 minutes. Five of Stevenson goalie Leanne Bittner's 10 saves came in the final 15 minutes of the second half, as VC could just not find the net consistently. A goal from Botticelli with 35 seconds on the clock made it 9-7, but it was not enough as Stevenson controlled the ball down the stretch to earn the two-goal victory.

The Brewers will play their final game of the 2015 Spring Fling Tournament tomorrow against Western Connecticut State at 12:30 pm.

Note:

Isabelle Goldstein's two assists today move her into second all-time in school history in career assists (57), passing Christine Eaccarino ('09, 57 A) on the all-time list. Goldstein now only trails Ali Fantl ('07) who holds the program record with 78 career assists.