POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (September 5, 2015) – The Vassar College field hockey team tallied twice in the final 8:01 of regulation, erasing a 1-0 deficit in earning a hard fought 2-1 victory over William Paterson University to capture the 27^th Annual Betty Richey Tournament crown.

The win for the Brewers marked their fifth all-time championship in the event, while also chalking up their first-ever consecutive titles. It didn't come easy though, as nine-time Betty Richey Tournament champs William Paterson forced Vassar College into having to rally late.

With just over eight minutes to play in regulation, the Brewers (3-0) benefited from a defensive lapse in the back from the Pioneers, which allowed VC to knot the game at one. On the play, three WPU players missed a clear attempt, and the ball fell to sophomore Storm Sideleau (Contoocook, NH/Kimball Union Academy) one-timed a shot into the left corner for the equalizer.

The play was made initially by a takeaway by Sophie Arnold (Merion, PA/Lower Merion) near midfield, and kept alive by freshman Alyssa More (Wilmington, DE/Mount Pleasant) before being pounced on by Sideleau.

Minutes later, WPU (1-2) nearly regained its lead as Angelica Giammetta send a ball towards the cage, but after a deflection, Arnold was forced to make a great defensive save to keep the game tied at one, setting up some late game heroics by two of Vassar's top returning scorers.

With under two minutes left in regulation, senior Bianca Zarrella (Leominster, MA/Leominster) sent a cross into the middle of the field, where it looked to be intercepted by a Pioneer defender. Before the WPU player could corral the ball, senior Lauren Wiebe (Chicago, IL/Francis W. Parker) got a stick on the ball, sending it right in front to Hayley Beach (Latham, NY/Shaker).

The junior forward gathered the ball, turned and fired and beat Pioneer keeper Meg Davies to her stick side and just inside the left post for the game-winner. The tally was Beach's second of the season, and her 13^th career goal for Vassar. "It felt great, Wiebe made a great play to push it to me, and I just turned and shot. It was a great feeling," said Beach.

The heroics were needed though after a first half that saw Vassar outshoot William Paterson 12-1, but the one shot was all the Pioneers needed to grab the lead as Felicia Wetzel scored off a corner with help from Meghin Stanton at the 18:42 mark of the game.

The Brewers finished with a 20-3 shot advantage, while earning 10 of the contest's 13 penalty corners including eight in the opening frame. Davies was great for William Paterson, making nine saves, while VC freshman keeper Paige Amico (Carlsbad, VA/La Costa Canyon) chalked up two stops in moving her record to 3-0.

Vassar freshman Megan Caveny (Cicero, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) and Sideleau each had four shots to pace the Brewers, while freshman Monica Feeley (Harrisburg, PA/Susquehanna Township) put three attempts on goal as well. Feeley, junior Lauren Shumate (Encinitas, CA/San Dieguito Academy) and freshman Molly Youse (New Cumberland, PA/Cedar Cliff) each earned All-Tournament team for their play, while Wiebe was honored as the Tournament MVP.

Vassar will head to Kean University Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. for non-conference action.