POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (October 21, 2016) – Vassar College will look to finish the Liberty League on a high note Saturday, as the Brewers head to Troy, NY to battle the Engineers of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in action from Harkness Field. A lot will be on the line for the Brewers, who could clinch a tie for first place in the regular season with a win against the Engineers, who have been eliminated from playoff contention. RPI has played very well at home this season, and the contest will be a tough match for Vassar on what will be the Engineer's Senior Day.
 
Game Details
Opponent: at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (7-7, 1-4 Liberty League)
Links: (RPI's Field Hockey Home Page) (Roster) (Stats) (Schedule)
Site: Troy, NY
Facility: Harkness Field
Date: October 22, 2016
Time: 2 p.m.
Coverage: (Live Stats) (Live Video)
 
Last Time Out: Vassar has won its last three, including a 6-0 romp over Union College on Thursday night as five different Brewers were able to find the back of the net. Sophomore Haley Cubell tallied the first two goals for Vassar, and senior Emma Bracken and junior Storm Sideleau scored right before the half to put VC up 4-0 at the break. Sophomores Emily Poehlein and Megan Caveny potted goals in the second half for Vassar, as Poehlein and Sideleau each had a goal and two assists apiece. The game marked VC's 10^th shutout of the season.
 
A Look At The Brewers (12-2, 4-1 Liberty League)
 

• Vassar's defense has continued to be stellar this season, allowing just seven goals all year, which leads the Liberty League and is second-best in all of NCAA field hockey behind Division II Shippensburg and its four allowed scores.
• The first NCAA Regional Rankings came out on Wednesday, and the Vassar field hockey team is ranked No. 1 in the North Atlantic Region.
• In Liberty League play, Vassar has scored 15 goals, tied with William Smith for the most of any team.
• VC has three players ranked in the top 10 in the conference in assists per game, as Megan Caveny (0.50, 4^th), Storm Sideleau (0.455, 8^th) and Emma Bracken (.357, 9^th) are all on the listing.
• Caveny is currently ranked fifth in the conference in points per game with 24, which is just four shy of the VC single-season record for points in a season behind the 28 of Tina Caso in 2013.
• Vassar's four conference wins here in 2016 is the most of any season ever.
• With their six goals on Thursday, the Brewers broke the school record for goals in a season, posting their 49^th of the season. VC also broke the single-season points record as a team on Thursday, posting its 135^th point of the year.
• The Brewers finished their home slate for the regular season on Thursday, going 9-1 on Weinberg Field and have now posted a 34-3 home record over the last four seasons.  
• Vassar will go into Saturday's game with RPI with 16 players on its team posting at least one point or more this year. Only three non-goalkeepers have not recorded a point in 2016.
• The Brewers currently have five players with 10 or more points this season, which marks the third year in the last four seasons that has happened. VC has never had six in a season, as Gracie Tavakkol and Emma Bracken each have nine, and three others have eight.
• Freshman Cristina Lopez has been a juggernaut for the Brewers, as the newcomer hasn't come off the field in the last eight games.
• Sophomore keeper Paige Amico leads the conference in goals against average (0.597), save percentage (.857) and shutouts.

 
A Look At The Engineers (7-7, 1-4 Liberty)
 

• RPI has had an up and down year, but the very athletic, talented Engineer squad has posted some impressive wins this year, including downing ranked Mount Holyoke and Montclair State.
• The Engineers have been strong at home, winning four games on their home turf, while all three losses have come to ranked teams.
• One of those losses was Wednesday evening, falling to No. 5 Middlebury 2-0 in non-conference play. RPI's lone conference win came back on October 16, and overtime 2-1 win over Union College.
• RPI has scored 31 goals this year, averaging 2.21 per game, while surrendering 24 on the season.
• Mikaela DiBello is fifth in the Liberty League in shots with 4.50 per game, while ranking seventh with 22 points this year.
• Teammate Megan Jones is sixth in the conference in assists per game with 0.357, right behind DiBello's 0.429.
• Nessa Costa has scored three goals this season, but two have been game winners, which leads the team.
• Rachel Kaufman has been strong in net for the Engineers, averaging 5.42 saves per game, third-highest in the conference. Her 65 saves are also third-best in the Liberty League.
• Bridget LaNoir, a 1999 graduate of RPI, is the all-time winningest head coach in program history, having been at the helm since 2001.
• Mac Reininger has posted five defensive saves this season, which is second-most in the conference and 32^nd nationally.

Against RPI All-Time: The Brewers are 10-17-1 against RPI all-time, having earned wins in their last two outings against the Engineers. Vassar has defeated RPI twice before on the road, with wins in 2005 and 1991.
 
Up Next: Vassar will travel to Scranton, PA on Wednesday, October 26 for a night non-conference affair at 7 p.m. in the Electric City with the University of Scranton.