POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (September 1, 2017) – Sophomore Cristina Lopez scored 61:38 into the game, breaking a scoreless tie to give the Vassar College field hockey a season-opening 1-0 victory over Marywood University in the opening round of the 29^th annual Betty Richey Tournament on Weinberg Field.

The Brewers (1-0) will now take on the winner of SUNY Geneseo and Manhattanville College at 3:30 p.m. in the title game of the Betty Richey Tournament. Vassar has played in the last five championship games of the tournament, winning the last three contests. The Brewers will be going for their fourth straight Betty Richey title, which would tie for the longest stretch in the tournament's history.

Vassar had control of the contest for most of the day, as the Brewers outshot their visitors 28-0 over the game. The Brewers got its first penalty corner just 2:09 into the game, and Lopez had two quick opportunities by Marywood keeper Kerri Mountz made two stellar stops. At the 7:25 point of the contest, VC had its best chance of the first half, but a Sam Plante shot off of a penalty corner was stopped with a defensive save by Tori Jo Kakisian.

The Pacers had their best chance in the 18^th minute, as Marywood earned their first and only penalty corner of the day. On the play, the insertion came out top and the pass to the left found Lindsay Quinn open. Her shot was low and found the back of the cage, but her shot was just behind the outside of the circle so it was waved off.  

The Vassar attack was at it again in the 20^th minute, with another great chance by junior Gracie Tavakkol, but Kakisian added another defensive stop to keep the game scoreless. The third defensive save of the game for the Pacers (0-1) came in the 24^th minute, as Sara Marshall denied a scoring opportunity from freshman Dara Studnitzer.

After the Brewers took a 13-0 shot edge into the second half, Kakusian made yet another defensive save to once again thwart the Brewers. On the play, Plante turned after a scrum in front of the cage and fired, but Kakusian dropped down to swat the shot away.

Vassar continued to keep the pressure on, and it paid off in the 62^nd minute on a flurry of shots for the home team. Junior Megan Caveny started the pressure with a shot that was saved by Mountz. Right after a long hit from Molly Youse, Lopez weaved to her left and lifted a shot over Mountz's right shoulder for the tally. That was plenty, as VC continued to control the ball in earning the opening day victory.

The Brewers finished with 20 shots on goal, led by the eight by Lopez as she fired 10 total attempts. Junior Alyssa More took four shots, while Caveny also had five shot attempts. Brewer sophomore goalkeeper Liz Rotolo was untested, but earned her first collegiate full shutout Friday. On the other side, Mountz chalked up 15 stops total in addition to her four defensive stops.

The consolation game will feature Marywood at 1 p.m. against the loser of the Geneseo and Manhattanville game from Friday evening.