POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (March 5, 2016) – Junior attack Julia Trudell chalked up a team-best five points Saturday afternoon, leading the Vassar College women's lacrosse team to a season-opening 15-5 win over visiting New Paltz in action from Weinberg Field on a chilly, windy day.

"I was really impressed with the way that we played," said Trudell. "Our freshmen really proved themselves today...but this was really a great first step in being successful for the rest of the season." 

Vassar (1-0) wasted no time opening the scoring in the 2016 season, as sophomore standout attack Storm Sideleau beat her defender to the right and fired a powerful shot past Colleen Roemer for the early 1-0 lead. New Paltz answered as Melissa Watner chalked up an unassisted tally just 21 seconds later to made the score 1-1.

VC would net the next two scores, from Trudell and senior Isabelle Goldstein, but Nicole Stackpole scored her first of four goals on the day to make the Vassar lead just one at 3-2. The defense for the Brewers clamped down from that point, thanks to the strong effort from sophomore keeper Emily Chancey.

Chancey totaled seven saves over the last 20 minutes of the first half, which allowed the Brewers to 7-0 run, capped by a free-position, man-up goal by Amelia Rivoir. For the sophomore Rivoir, it was her second goal of the contest as she helped send the Brewers into the halftime intermission with a 10-2 advantage.

Following intermission, Trudell continued the run for Vassar (1-0) before Stackpole again posted a score with help from Caitlyn Morris to make the game 11-3. Vassar would put the game away though with three more scores, as senior Kim Mulvehill, Trudell, and freshman Lindsay Wolk all got on the board to put VC up 14-3. Rivoir capped the scoring for Vassar with 5:21 to play in the game to post her first career hat trick.

Trudell's five points matched a career-high, set back on March 18, 2014 against Mount Saint Mary College, while her four goals also tied a career high. Mulvehill picked up where she left off in 2015 with three scores Saturday, her seventh career three-goal game. Sideleau finished with two tallies on her three shots, and Goldstein added a goal and three helpers.

"It's great to have dependable players on offense to pass the ball to and not have to depend on any one person," said Trudell. "That's a really key component of our success going forward." 

"We can really spread defenses out, they can't key on one or two players," said head coach Judy Finerghty. "We have a bunch of different dangerous attackers who can create for themselves or for others, along with some great passers to diversify our offense." 

Defender Darby Stahl had a very strong first game on the back end, causing four turnovers while picking up four ground balls. Freshman Rose Clarfeld added two caused turnovers, and fellow newcomer Emily Hamburger also had two forced giveaways.

Chancey finished with eight saves and just two scores allowed in the first half before giving way to freshman Kristin Caolo, who made two stops in net for Vassar. Sophomore was paced in the circle by sophomore Olivia O'Loughlin, who had four draw controls and two ground balls.

"(Chancey) was amazing today and not having really seen the field last year, I was really impressed with how she did today, and she's going to be key for us this year," said Trudell. 

"Emily Chancey was great in the first half in net for us," said Finerghty. "Then Kristin jumped in there and made some big saves for us, they really kept us in the game." 

The Brewers outshot New Paltz 27-21 on the contest, holding a slight 18-16 lead in the ground-ball category. VC also held a 14-8 edge in draw controls, and scored on two of its four free positions shots.

Vassar is off until March 15, which it heads to Bradenton, FL for spring break to take on Keene State at 12:30 p.m., followed by a tough test in the Sunshine State against No. 9 Bowdoin College at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, March 17.