POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (April 25, 2015) – The Vassar women's lacrosse team secured the third overall seed in the Liberty League Championships Saturday afternoon, defeating Clarkson University 14-8 on senior day. Junior Isabelle Goldstein (Belmont, MA/Belmont) and freshman Storm Sideleau (Hopkinton, NH/Kimball Union Academy) led the charge for Vassar, combining for nine goals to pace the Brewers to their fifth straight victory.  

The win moves Vassar to 10-5 on the season and 6-3 in the Liberty League, tying the team's best-ever regular season finish in conference. The No. 3 seed is the highest seed ever for a Vassar team in the postseason classic, as the Brewers are set to face second-seeded Skidmore College (12-4, 7-2 LL) on Friday, May 1 in Schenectady, NY.

"I think the consistency is really key," said head coach Judy Finerghty when asked about her team's third consecutive postseason appearance. "It's one thing to make the playoffs here and there, but to be able to advance three years in a row speaks to the quality of the players we're getting. We have unbelievable seniors that work the hardest on the team, and they just do a ton of work for us both on the field and off the field…I really can't credit them enough for the tone they've set for this team."

Vassar never trailed in the game at Weinberg Field, and opened up a 6-1 lead on the Golden Knights with a five-goal tear in the first quarter. Clarkson finally halted the Brewer outburst with a goal from Kate Dillon at the 1:12 mark, but Sideleau's third goal of the game with 23 seconds remaining kept Vassar ahead 7-2 at the break.

The Brewers never trailed by more than four for the rest of the afternoon, adding seven more scores in the second half to secure the six-goal victory. Vasaar held a 15-9 advantage in draw controls, while committing a season-low 12 turnovers as the team dominated possession.

Sophomore Julia Trudell (Newtown, CT/Newtown) tallied a team-high three assists while scoring a goal and collecting six draw controls. Freshmen Olivia O'Loughlin (Morristown, NJ/Oak Knoll School of Holy Child) and Amelia Rivoir (Huntington Station, NY/Walt Whitman) both notched a goal, as well as sophomore Sydney Spadinger (Shelton, CT/Shelton).

Senior Jackie Palma (Manhasset, NY/Manhasset) notched her second goal of the season to help put the game away. Senior Kate Pula (Washington Township, NJ/Immaculate Heart Academy) earned the victory in the cage for VC, finishing with five saves and two ground balls. 

The eight seniors of the Vassar women's lacrosse team (Leigh Anne Baldwin, Enya Cunningham, Dara Davis, Hilary McDonnell, Jackie Palma, Kate Pula, Katherine Stegmann and Evie Toland) were honored in a pregame ceremony for senior day as the group played their final home game at Weinberg Field.

Stay tuned to vassarathletics.com and @vassarathletics for details surrounding Vassar's Liberty League semifinal matchup with Skidmore College on May 1.

--VASSAR--