POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (September 17, 2015) – The Vassar women's soccer team (3-2) will return to the pitch this Saturday, September 19 to host Manhattanville College at Gordon Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:00 pm.  

Game Details
Opponent: vs. Manhattanville College (1-3)
Links: (Manhattanville Soccer Home Page) (Roster) (Stats) (Schedule)
Site: Poughkeepsie, NY
Facility: Gordon Field
Date: September 19, 2015
Time:  2:00 p.m.
Game Coverage: (Live Stats) (Live Video)
 
Last Time Out: Sophomore Amanda McFarland (Redwood City, CA/Melno) scored the game-winning goal to break the tie in overtime, as Vassar topped Whitman College 1-0 on September 13. The Brewers finished 1-1 overall at the Stevens Engineering Cup.
 
A Look at the Valiants: Manhattanville enters Saturday's contest 1-3 on the year, looking to bounce back from a 1-3 loss to Kean University on September 16. The Valiants fell in their first two games of the year to Drew University (1-0) and the University of Saint Joseph (CT). Manhattanville's lone win of 2015 came on a 2OT win vs. Purchase College on September 11. The Valiants finished 2-15-1 overall last season, and suffered their largest margin of defeat to Vassar losing 6-0.
 
Senior Christie Demarco leads the team in scoring with two goals on the season. Freshman Joanna Karp has the only other tally for the Valiants, notching a goal for M'Ville in the team's win over Purchase. Junior Dolores Diemicke has played the majority of the minutes in goal for the Valiants, with 20 saves and a 2.44 goals against average on the season.    
 
Against Manhattanville All-Time: Vassar is 19-2 all-time vs. the Valiants, and has won five straight contests between the schools dating back to 2004. Last season the Brewers secured a 6-0 victory over M'Ville paced by goals from five different players.  
 
Defender of the Week: Senior goalkeeper Emma Nichols (Lexington, MA/Lexington) was recognized for her big week in the goal for the Brewers as she was named both ECAC and Liberty League Defender of the Week. Nichols was 2-1 over the last week, earning two shutouts while making 23 total saves. She made six saves in a 2-0 win for Vassar over Western Connecticut on September 8, then made a season-high nine stops in a 2-1 double overtime loss to Stevens on September 12. Nichols secured her second shutout of the week against Whitman tallying eight saves in a 1-0 OT win for Vassar. She currently holds a .886 save percentage and 0.74 GAA on the season.
 
In the Record Books: Nichols has jumped a few spots on the all-time lists in a couple statistical categories through the first five games of 2015. She is now eighth in career saves (150) and tied for sixth in career shutouts (8) with Lisa Strumwasser ('07).
 
Overtime Warriors: Vassar has already played three overtime contests in 2015, matching its total extra time games from last season. After finishing in with three ties in OT last season, it's been feast or famine for the Brewers this year going 2-1 in OT games. VC topped NYU on a golden goal on September 5, before suffering a sudden death loss to Stevens on September 12. The Brewers came out on the right side of overtime the following day with a win over Whitman.
 
Knocking on the Door: Vassar is currently receiving votes (2) in the NSCAA Division III East Regional Poll.
 
Freshmen First: The class of 2019 came to play against NYU, as both goal scorers were freshmen in a big 2-1 double overtime victory. Freshman Audrey Pillsbury (Laguna Beach, CA/Laguna Beach) buried her first collegiate goal in the 35^th minute, while Rebecca Andrews finished a beautiful header in the closing minutes of overtime to break the tie against the Violets. It was the first time since 2006 that two freshmen scored the first two goals of the season for Vassar, when Molly Mackin and Anna Robinson scored a pair of goals vs. St. Joseph's College.     
 
Speaking of First-Years: The freshmen have made an immediate impact on the Brewer squad this season, accounting for 53% of the points scored so far. Rebecca Andrews currently leads the team in scoring with two goals and an assist.
 
Defending Gordon: Vassar was fantastic on the natural grass surface of Gordon Field last season, finishing undefeated at home with a 6-0-2 record. The Brewers allowed just one goal at Gordon, while scoring 14 over the course of eight games. After beating NYU, Vassar now holds a nine-game unbeaten streak at Gordon.   
 
Season Debuts: 17 different players saw the field for Vassar in the season opener against Mt. St. Mary (NY) on September 2, including seven freshmen making their collegiate debuts.
 
Captain: Senior Lucy Brainerd (Littleton, CO/Heritage) will serve as the squad's team captain for the 2015 campaign.   

Geography Lesson: Vassar's 2015 roster features student athletes from 13 different states and the District of Columbia. The most populous is California, with seven players hailing from the Golden State, while Massachusetts is second with four Brewers.

On to the Next One: Vassar will be back on Gordon Field next week on Tuesday, September 22 to play local Hudson Valley rival SUNY-New Paltz at 4:00 pm.