POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (August 30, 2017) – The Vassar College women's soccer team begins their 2017 season on the road Friday, September 1 against Montclair State at 7:00 p.m.

In 2016, the Brewers posted a 9-8-2 overall record while going 6-2-0 against conference foes. Their six league wins set a new program standard in that category while also matching their best finish in the conference standings with second place.

Head Coach Corey Holton is back for her fourth season on the bench and returns eight starters from her 2016 squad. The Brewers also bring back three of their top five point producers from last season and three All-Liberty League selections. The 2017 squad is made up of 11 upperclassmen, five sophomores, and nine rookies.

FORWARDS
The junior trio of Arianna Cascone, Rachel Chernet, and Audrey Pillsbury will pace the Brewer offense along with freshmen Ashley Ferry and Ally Thayer who have both looked impressive in the preseason. Of the returning players, Pillsbury led the way with seven goals and three assists last season to finish the year second in points. Cascone and Chernet combined for seven appearances in 2016 with one goal and one assist.

MIDFIELD
Senior Amanda McFarland will lead the midfield alongside returning players Dahlia Chroscinski, Savannah Cutler, Gabrielle Deitch, and Sara Seper. Vassar will also add freshmen Megan Saari and Hannah Daley into the rotation for quality depth off the bench. Chroscinski, Deitch, and Seper were all starters for most of 2016 while Cutler was a key offensive reserve for the Brewers adding two goals and five assists as a rookie.

DEFENSE
Arguably Vassar's deepest unit with nine players listed as defenders on the roster, senior Carolina Alvarez will lead the back line. Also returning are two everyday starters from a season ago in Megan Coughlan and Emma Lavelle as well as Sarah DeBenedictis, Jordan Moss, and Nika Schnitzer who combined for 35 appearances and five starts in 2016. Rookies Emma Trasatti, Brenna McMannon, and Sklyar Herrera-Ross have all come in to camp ready to play and will battle for playing time in their first year.

GOALKEEPERS       
The Brewers will have three goalkeepers on their roster this season. Junior Katie Emery is back for her third season along with sophomore Camelia Manring, and freshman Fiona Walsh. Neither Emery nor Manring have seen action in their college careers and it will be a battle for playing time between the three keepers.