ROCHESTER, NY (April 10, 2015) – Freshman Storm Sideleau (Hopkinton, NH/Kimball Union Academy) scored her only goal of the game with just a second remaining in regulation, as Vassar rallied to defeat the Rochester Institute of Technology 9-8 Friday evening. After trailing by as many as four goals in the opening half, the Brewers erased the deficit in the second period and held the lead into the final minute of play. Vassar improves to 5-4 on the season and 3-2 in the Liberty League with the win, while RIT drops to 4-7 (2-3 LL).     

Junior Kim Mulvehill (Sudbury, MA/Chapel-Hill – Chauncey Hill) and sophomore Brittany Botticelli (Commack, NY/Commack) each finished with two goals, while junior Isabelle Goldstein (Belmont, MA/Belmont) recorded a game-high two assists to pace the Brewers. Senior goalkeeper Kate Pula (Washington Township, NJ/Immaculate Heart Academy) was excellent in the second half, making five of her six saves on the day and allowing just two goals.  

After the teams traded a pair of goals in the opening minutes, the Tigers went on a four-goal scoring streak to jump out ahead of the Brewers 5-1 by the 18:21 mark. Botticelli had the answer for the Brewers, scoring the next two goals to trim the RIT advantage to 5-3 by the 9:30 mark.

The Tigers would get one back, as Corrina Mandell notched her second of the game with 5:58 remaining to push the lead to three. Vassar ended the half strong, as Goldstein and junior Paige Abramowitz (Maplewood, NJ/Millburn) netted goals with under five minutes remaining as VC trailed by just one at the break.

The Brewers carried that momentum into the second half, extending their scoring run to 5-0 by the 12:39 mark. A goal from sophomore Julia Trudell (Newtown, CT/Newtown) on a dish from Goldstein tied the game less than two minutes into the half, while senior Evie Toland's (Nyack, NY/Nyack) first goal of the season gave Vassar its first lead of the game at the 22:56 mark.

Muvehill's second score of the game put the Brewers ahead 8-6 with less than 13 minutes on the clock, before RIT made its move in the closing minutes. Sammy Ward scored an unassisted goal at the 4:52 mark to come within one, while a woman-down goal from Emily Livecchi with only 36 seconds remaining tied the game at eight.

It appeared as though Vassar would play its second overtime game of the season, but a caused turnover from Trudell off the final draw control gave VC one last shot at the win. Sideleau drove to the net and fired a shot as time expired, beating the RIT keeper to notch her second game-winning goal in just three games.

Vassar will look to make it a two-win weekend when the team faces the University of Rochester tomorrow at 2 pm.

Notes:

Senior Jackie Palma (Manhasset, NY/Manhasset Junior-Senior) is now just one caused turnover away from the all-time school record, as her three CTOs against RIT bump her into second in school history. Palma (85) now sits behind only Emilie Moeckel's ('05) all-time record of 86 career caused turnovers.

Palma's 27 CTOs this year is good for sixth all-time in a season for a Brewer, and she'll have an opportunity to pass Kaitlin Harvie's ('04) record of 36 caused turnovers with six games left in the regular season.

Junior Isabelle Goldstein is now tied for sixth all-time in career points (136) with Allie Morgan ('11) after recorded three against RIT.

--VASSAR--