POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (October 18, 2017) – Coming off a very important 2-1 Liberty League overtime victory over St. Lawrence University, the Vassar College field hockey team will look to earn a spot in the Liberty League playoffs against Ithaca College and Union College this weekend. Vassar needs one win this weekend over either Ithaca or Union to clinch its fifth consecutive Liberty League playoff appearance.
 
Game Details
Opponents: vs. Ithaca College (6-7, 1-4 Liberty)
Links: (Ithaca Field Hockey Home Page) (Roster) (Schedule) (Stats)
Site: Poughkeepsie, NY
Facility: Weinberg Field
Date: October 20, 2017
Time: 4 p.m.
Game Coverage: (Live Stats) (Live Video)
 
Opponents: at Union College (6-7, 1-4 Liberty)
Links: (SLU Field Hockey Home Page) (Roster) (Schedule) (Stats)
Site: Schenectady, NY
Facility: Frank Bailey Field
Date: October 22, 2017
Time: 2 p.m.
Game Coverage: (Live Stats) (Live Video)
 
Last Time Out: Junior Megan Caveny scored 4:28 into overtime to lift Vassar past St. Lawrence 2-1 last Sunday afternoon. VC outshot its visitors 38-3 on the day, earning 22 penalty corners, but a second-half tally from Tori Shaffer of SLU evened things up after a third minute goal from Storm Sideleau gave the Brewers the lead. The consistent pressure of VC paid off, as the Brewers moved to 3-2 in the conference on the season.
 
A Look At The Brewers (8-5, 3-2 Liberty):
 

• Vassar is ranked second in the Liberty League in scoring margin, with a 2.00 rate. They're posting three goals per game, which is also second-best in the conference.
• Megan Caveny is currently third in the conference in goals per game with .923, posting 12 on the season. She is one of just three players in the League with double-digit goals.
• Sophomore Liz Rotolo leads the conference in goals against average with a 1.077 rate, allowing just 12 goals in 13 games this season.
• VC has won two of its last three overall, and is 7-0 at home this year. Vassar hasn't lost a conference home game since 2012.
• The Brewers have been stingy in the opening half of games this season, surrendering just four scores over the first 35 minutes of contests.
• The penalty corner unit will look to get things going this weekend, as Vassar was unable to score on any of their 22 attempts last weekend against SLU.
• Vassar currently has eight players on its team with two or more goals in 2017. 
• Junior Monica Feeley has been absolutely stupendous since her return from injury, as VC has surrendered only 15 shots in three games. During her injury, VC was allowing 13 shots per game.
• The Brewers have outshot their opponents in 11 of 13 games this season, and have held penalty corner edges in 11 contests.

 
A Look at The Bombers (6-7, 1-4 Liberty):
 

• Ithaca College comes to town having dropped its last four, allowing four goals in each of its last three outings.
• The Bombers are 1-4 on the road this season, and 0-3 in Liberty League away contests in 2017.
• Ithaca's last win came on September 30, a 2-1 home victory over St. Lawrence University.
• The Bombers are the Liberty League's lowest-scoring offense, posting just 1.538 goals per game, while allowing 2.31 per contest.
• Michaela Donohue is the Bomber's go-to option up front, as she sits tied for fourth in the goals category in the League with nine. Three of her goals have been game-winners.
• Savanna Lenker has played all but 20 minutes in the cage for the Bombers, making 95 saves on the year while allowing just 30 goals and posting one shutout.

 
A Look at the Dutchwomen (6-7, 1-4 Liberty):
 

• The Dutchwomen have dropped back-to-back contests and three of their last four, falling to Rochester last Sunday 6-0 on the road.
• Union has been scoring effectively, and have put together a stretch of five games with two or more goals before its shutout loss to the Yellowjackets.
• The Dutchwomen are 3-3 at home this season, and 1-2 in home Liberty League matchups.
• Union has posted just seven first-half tallies this year, while allowing 22 goals in the opening period. UC has been stronger in the second half though, with a nearly 1:1 goal ratio.
• Union has allowed 2.85 goals per game this year, which is the second-most in the conference.
• Charlotte Leyland has taken 50 shots this year, which is fourth-best in the Liberty League, but has scored just four goals.
• Alexa Puleio has posted five goals this year on just 12 shots on goal.
• Jenna Smith is tied for the Liberty League lead in defensive saves with five, while teammate Quinn Relihan has three this season.
• Union keeper Heather Poisson sits atop the saves category in the Liberty League, making 109 on the season. She has the Liberty League's best save percentage at .813.

 
Against Ithaca & Union All-Time: Friday afternoon will be the first meeting against Ithaca ever, while Vassar has gone 8-21 all-time against Union College. Vassar has won just once ever at Union, a 4-0 win back in 2003.
 
Up Next: Vassar will finish its non-conference schedule Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. against the University of Scranton.