POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (March 28, 2017) — The Vassar College women's lacrosse team (3-3, 0-0 Liberty) kicks off conference play, hosting Union College on Friday, March 31 at 4 p.m. and William Smith College on Saturday, April 1 at 2 p.m.
 
Game Details
Opponent: Union Dutchwomen (1-3, 0-0 Liberty)
Links: (Union Home Page) (Roster) (Stats) (Schedule)
Site:  Poughkeepsie, NY
Facility: Weinberg Field
Date: Friday, March 31, 2017
Time: 4 p.m.
Coverage: (Live Stats) (Video)
 
Game Details
Opponent: William Smith Herons (6-1, 0-0 Liberty)
Links: (William Smith Home Page) (Roster) (Stats) (Schedule)
Site:  Poughkeepsie, NY
Facility: Weinberg Field
Date: Saturday, April 1, 2017
Time: 2 p.m.
Coverage: (Live Stats) (Video)
 
Last Time Out: Vassar split last week with a 13-12 win over Connecticut College on Wednesday and a 12-8 loss to Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham on Friday. Julia Trudell was productive in both games, notching two hat tricks and totaling six ground balls, three created turnovers and four draw controls.
 
A Look at the Brewers (3-3):

• Julia Trudell earned a spot on the Liberty League Honor Roll on Monday for her performances last week. The full release can be read here.
• After starting the season 0-2, the Brewers strung together three straight wins before falling in their most recent outing.
• Through six games, the Brewers have outshot opponents 172-158 overall and 138-121 in shots-on-goal.
• Of VC's 76 total goals, 27 have been assisted. The Brewers have connected on 18 of 42 free position attempts.
• The Brewers are winning the draw control battle, 87-61, but opponents have picked up more ground balls, 131-124.
• Tessa Waters has been stellar in her freshman campaign, leading the Brewers with 19 points (15g, 4a), 12 ground balls and 20 draw controls.
• Storm Sideleau (15g, 3a), Fiona MacLeod (8g, 4a), Trudell (8g, 3a) and Kelly Pushie (9g, 1a) have also been productive on offense.
• Sara Mathes (11cto, 9gb), MacLeod (8cto, 8gb) and Brittany Botticelli (6cto, 3gb) have been solid on the defensive front.
• Kristin Caolo and Emily Chancey have split time in the cage. Caolo (2-3) has made 25 stops for a 41.0 save percentage, while Chancey (1-0) has fended away 29 shots for a 48.3 percentage.
• The Brewers look to improve upon their 2016 campaign, in which they finished 6-9 overall and 2-7 in Liberty League play.
• This season, the Brewers are captained by Botticelli and Trudell.

 
A Look at the Dutchwomen (1-3):

• After winning their opener against Buffalo State, the Dutchwomen lost three in a row, falling to SUNY Cortland, Williams College and most recently Babson College.
• In Union's 9-8 loss to Babson on Thursday, the Dutchwomen knotted the game at 8-all with eight seconds remaining before falling in overtime. Jackie Hagopian, who scored the equalizer, and Natalie Sullivan both netted hat tricks in the loss.
• The Dutchwomen have yet to play at home, as their only game at Frank Bailey Field against York College of Pennsylvania was canceled.
• Through four games, Union has been outshot by opponents 114-87 overall and 91-66 in shots-on-goal.
• Of Union's 36 goals, 13 have been assisted. The Dutchwomen have connected on nine of 17 free position attempts.
• The Dutchwomen have won the draw control battle, 48-47, and the ground ball battle, 66-55.
• Hagopian paces the team with 15 points on 14 goals and an assist. Cailin Pandolfl (4g, 8a) and Natalie Sullivan (9g, 1a) have also been productive on the offensive side of the ball.
• Pandolfl (5cto, 8gb) and Caitlin Hullinger (5cto, 8gb) have been sturdy on defense.
• Jen Hughes, Hallie Stone and Ellen Taney have all spent time in net. Hughes (1-3) has made 38 saves over 222 minutes, Stone hasn't made a stop yet in 11 minutes of play and Taney has fended away two shots over eight minutes.
• The Dutchwomen look to build upon their 2016 campaign, in which they finished 11-5 overall and 8-1 in conference play.
• Last year, Union lost to Skidmore in the Liberty League semifinals, 9-8.
• This season, the Dutchwomen are captained by Hagopian and Katie Quinlan.

 
Against Union All-Time: The Brewers are 2-23 against the Dutchwomen all-time, dating back to their first meeting in 1992. Vassar had dropped the past three meetings, most recently winning 15-14 in double overtime in 2013.
 
A Look at the Herons (6-1):

• The Herons won their first three games to open the season against SUNY Geneseo, No. 13 Hamilton College and Nazareth College before falling to No. 14 Bowdoin. Since then, they've beaten No. 18 Wesleyan, No. 14 St. John Fisher and Buffalo State.
• Before the Herons head to Poughkeepsie, they'll face Bard College on the road Friday.
• Through seven games, the Herons have outshot opponents 164-97 overall and 117-81 in shots-on-goal.
• Of William Smith's 61 total goals, 23 have been assisted. The Herons have converted on 13 of 42 free position attempts.
• The Herons are winning the draw control battle, 61-50, and the ground ball battle, 112-76.
• Melissa Moore (14g, 6a) and Alexandria Bird (14g, 6a) lead the Herons with 20 points apiece. Bizzer Gahagan (10g, 2a), Allie Flaherty (9g, 1a) and Ali Burns (8g, 2a) have also been productive on offense.
• Laura Rollins leads the team with 19 ground balls and 11 created turnovers, while Gahagan paces the pack with 23 draw controls.
• Sarah Honan has spent all the time in goal, making 47 stops for a 58.0 save percentage.
• The Herons look to build upon their 2016 season, in which they finished 12-8 overall and 8-1 in conference play.
• Last year, William Smith beat St. Lawrence University and Skidmore to win the Liberty League title before beating Roger Williams and falling to Gettysburg in the NCAA Tournament.

 
Against William Smith All-Time: The Brewers are 2-13 against the Herons all-time, dating back to their first meeting in 2001. Vassar has won two of the past four meetings, most recently beating William Smith in 2015, 9-8.
 
Next Up: Vassar hits the road for a pair of Liberty League tilts, facing University of Rochester on Friday, April 7 at 4 p.m. and Rochester Institute of Technology on Saturday, April 8 at 2 p.m.