POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (September 24, 2016) – The Vassar College women's soccer team opened Liberty League play with a 7-1 win over Skidmore College at Gordon Field on Saturday.
"We've been really working hard," head coach Corey Holton said. "We've been challenged a lot in our non-conference schedule, and it was all leading up to this. We're really happy with where we're at. I knew we had it in us. It was just a matter of time at unleashing things."
Freshman midfielder Gabrielle Deitch scored the game-winner, her first collegiate goal, in the 21st minute, as six Brewers found the back of the net.
"I'm just super excited," Deitch said. "I feel like we've been building up to this point for the whole season so far, and we've been coming close and everything just came together today. We just took all of our energy and our desire to win out on this game. It was awesome."
Rebecca Andrews totaled two tallies for the Brewers, while Jordan Moss, Audrey Pillsbury, Rachel Chernet and Emily Krebs each added a goal.
"So many people contributed to this win," Deitch added.
The Brewers won the possession battle, outshooting the Thoroughbreds 19-7 overall. Goalkeeper Stephanie Tapolsky earned the win with three saves over 90 minutes, while Alyssa Rollins took the loss with two in the first half. Deidre Walsh was in net for the second, making four saves over the final 45 minutes.
Goal-By-Goal Breakdown
1-0, VC (21st minute) — Deitch kicked off the Brewers' offensive attack, putting them on the board after striking into the lower right corner.
2-0, VC (37th minute) — Savannah Cutler helped Jordan Moss notch her first collegiate goal, crossing into the box from right to left. Moss gained possession before firing straight back into the net from about six yards out.
3-0, VC (54th minute) — Pillsbury opened up second-half scoring within the first four minutes. Deitch passed through a crowded box to Pillsbury, who trickled her third goal of the season into the bottom, right corner.
4-0, VC (58th minute) — Four minutes later, Amanda McFarland bounced a header-pass to Pillsbury, who used another header-pass to find Andrews, who kicked her second goal of the season into the net from close range.
5-0, VC (78th minute) — Rachel Marklyn used a free kick from about 45 yards out to find Andrews, who connected with a header into the left corner of the box for her second goal of the day.
5-1, VC (82nd minute) — Skidmore's lone goal came late in the second half. Emily Mendes passed 35 yards ahead to Nicole LoRusso, who grabbed her own rebound before finding the back of the net.
6-1, VC (84th minute) — Chernet stole the ball in the midfield before beating three defenders and chipping her shot beyond the goalie's left side.
7-1, VC (90th minute) — Krebs closed scoring with a last-second goal, thanks to an assist from Chernet, who crossed inside the box. The senior captain, who was positioned right near the left post, struck the ball into the far right corner.
With the win, the Brewers improve to 2-5-1 overall and 1-0-0 in conference play, while the Thoroughbreds fall to 3-2-1 and 0-1-1, respectively.
"I think it's a great confidence-booster," Deitch said. "I think it just goes to show that we can do great things in the Liberty League because it's been a tough start to the season. We've been playing well, but not getting the results we want, so I think this is just a great way to go out there and keep our morale up for games to come."
Vassar continues its four-game homestead, hosting Clarkson University (Friday, Sept. 30 at 4 p.m.), St. Lawrence University (Saturday, Oct. 1 at 2 p.m.) and Mount Saint Mary College (Wednesday, Oct. 5 at 4 p.m.) at Gordon Field.
—VASSAR—
