NEW PALTZ, NY (October 29, 2016) – The Vassar College field hockey team rallied from a two-goal deficit Saturday at local non-conference rival New Paltz, earning a 3-2 regulation win and in the process setting the program record for wins in a season with 14 in action from North Turf Field.
 
The 14 victories in 2016 snap a 16-year mark that has stood since the 2000 season, when VC went 13-7. The Brewers also tied the school record for most road wins in a season with five, and now guaranteed themselves a winning record on the road for the first time since 2000. It wasn't easy though, as local rival New Paltz did not go lightly on what was its Senior Day.
 
The Hawks (9-8) withstood an early barrage of shots by the Brewers, as Megan Gangewere made four saves in the opening 18 minutes. New Paltz would break open the scoring in the 22^nd minute, as Justine O'Reilly tipped in a shot from teammate Hayley Kim that came from outside the circle.
 
Freshman Cristina Lopez nearly scored on a penalty corner attempt in the 27^th minute, but Gangewere was up to the task as well. The Hawks picked up a penalty corner of their own, and made good use of it, doubling their edge thanks to a goal from Samanatha Ackerman with help from Erin Landy at 30:55 of the contest.
 
That didn't deter the Brewers, and the amount of pressure that VC was putting on the Hawk backline paid dividends with no time on the clock. The Brewers earned two corners at 35:00 of the game, and on the second one Lopez rammed home a shot off a pass from sophomore Megan Caveny to send the game into halftime 2-1 while giving some momentum at the break.
 
After the intermission, the Hawks were forced to make a goalkeeper change at the end of the first half, as Rachel McLaughlin replaced Gangewere after earning a green card. When Gangewere re-entered at 36:30 of the contest, it took the Brewers exactly 20 seconds to even the game up at two.
 
On the play, senior Hayley Beach carried the ball in and fired a shot, which ricocheted off a New Paltz defender an into the net for the goal. It was Beach's seventh tally of the season. The Brewers weren't done, going on top for good under four minutes later at 40:41 of the contest as Lopez posted the game-winner unassisted.
 
The tally marked Lopez's first ever two-goal game, as she made a move into the circle and fired the shot from a wide angle into the cage. Vassar kept the pressure on over the next eight minutes, taking five shots over that span but couldn't double its lead as Gangewere collected four saves.
The best scoring chance the remainder of the game came by the hosts at 64:08, as Kayla McKeveny's attempt ringed off the post and out of danger for VC. Late in the game, New Paltz had its last effort thwarted by sophomore keeper Paige Amico, who made her second and final stop of the game with a minute to play to clinch the win for VC.
 
Vassar outshot its hosts 19-11 on the afternoon, while New Paltz held a 13-8 edge in penalty corners. Gangewere stopped nine shots for the Hawks, while Amico moved to 14-3 on the season with the win. Caveny took a team-high eight shots for the Brewers, while Lopez and sophomore Alyssa More each fired three apiece.
 
Saturday concluded the regular season for the Brewers, but the season continues for Vassar, as it heads into the 2016 Liberty League Tournament as the No. 2 seed. VC will host No. 3 Skidmore College Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. on Weinberg Field. Live stats and video will be available for the contest.