POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (September 19, 2016) – The Vassar College field hockey team played one of the best games of the year in all aspects, pinning the host Pioneers of William Paterson into their own zone for much of the game in earning a 6-0 dominating win in non-conference action Monday evening.

The Brewers (6-1) came out and never relented from start to finish, scoring early and often as the multi-faceted attack had the Pioneers on their heels all night. William Paterson, one of the best defensive teams in the nation according to the Division III statistics, had no answer for the relentless offensive press Vassar showed.

Vassar got on the board early, thanks to a strong corner play in the sixth minutes. On the second penalty corner of the game, sophomore Monica Feeley took the corner pass from classmate Mikayla Young, made a move around the charging defender, and backhand swept the ball low and past the WPU keeper for the 1-0 lead.

VC kept the pressure on thanks to its deep and talented roster, and nearly scored in the eighth minute but a Feeley shot was stopped by Meghin Stanton off the line. Vassar would double its lead in the 21^st minute on a flurry of chances, as sophomore Megan Caveny was denied twice before senior Hayley Beach shoved in the rebound for a 2-0 edge.

The third goal of the game came just over two minutes later at 22:59 of the game, as Vassar potted another penalty corner chance. On the corner, Caveny eluded the first defender and drove the end line, dishing to senior Lauren Shumate who pushed the pass into the right side of the cage for the tally.

Vassar was not done in the first half, and potted its fourth goal of the game on a great individual effort from sophomore Alyssa More. The midfielder picked up the ball on the right side, shielded a defender on the right side of her body and fired a wrist shot past the right pad of the Pioneer keeper for the tally. More now leads the team with five goals on the season.

At the end of the half, William Paterson (4-4) nearly got onto the board with three penalty corners, but sophomore Paige Amico and the VC defense fended off the attack by WPU. After the intermission, Vassar once again went on the offensive, scoring less than three minutes into the second half as freshman Cristina Lopez knocked in a rebound off a shot from Caveny for the 5-0 lead.

Vassar finished out the win with another great individual effort, this time from freshman Rylie Pope. The freshman back carried the ball all the way up the right side, weaving through defenders and her sweep shot was tipped into the cage by sophomore Gracie Tavakkol for the strike.

For Tavakkol, it was her fourth strike of the season. The six goals was more than enough, as Vassar completed its fourth straight shutout and third consecutive 6-0 win. "I think it really started with the forward line, setting the press, that's one of our team goals to set the high press," said Pope. "We played as a team today, all of our goals were team goals today and I think that showed our team play today."

Vassar's offense was strong Monday, but its midfield and defensive play was the driving force, as the stick-to-stick passing from Pope, sophomore Molly Youse and senior Sophie Arnold was top shelf. Vassar outshot its hosts 18-2 on the night, while earning nine penalty corners to the three from WPU. Amico made two saves for VC, while Liz Rotolo came on in the second half to preserve the shutout.

"This was a real team effort todayt, we were really connecting as a team," said Arnold. "I think we're starting to get a sense of the team were going to be."

The Brewers will return home Wednesday evening for a huge test against nationally-ranked No. 7 Montclair State University, hosting the Red Hawks at 7 p.m. on Weinberg Field.