POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (September 21, 2017) – The Vassar College field hockey team will look to rebound from a tough 3-2 overtime loss to No. 8 Montclair State University Wednesday evening, hosting Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. in the Liberty League opener for both teams.
 
Game Details
Opponents: vs. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1-6, 0-0 Liberty)
Links: (RPI Field Hockey Home Page) (Roster) (Schedule) (Stats)
Site: Poughkeepsie, NY
Facility: Weinberg Field
Date: September 23, 2017
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Game Coverage: (Live Stats) (Live Video)
 
Last Time Out: The Brewer field hockey team built a 2-0 lead at the half at No. 8 Montclair State, but couldn't hold on as a 75^th minute goal in overtime sealed the 3-2 come-from-behind win for the Red Hawks. Junior Megan Caveny potted two goals for Vassar in the opening stanza, but Kaitlyn Struss pulled MSU to within one at 46:32, before ending it at 74:09 of the game. Liz Rotolo made eight stops for Vassar.
 
A Look At The Brewers (5-2, 0-0 Liberty):
 

• Vassar comes into the game on Saturday averaging 4.00 goals per game through seven games, which is the most through the opening seven games in program history.
• Look for VC's defensive unit to bounce back on Saturday, as VC has allowed three or more goals in a game just six times in a regular season game during head coach Michael Warari's tenure.  
• Vassar has been strong at getting penalty corners this year, and scored on one against Montclair State, as a bouncing shot from Caveny snuck inside the left post to give the Brewers a 1-0 lead.
• Caveny is currently second in the Liberty League in goals with 10, already eclipsing her previous career-high of nine goals set last year. Since 2002, only Tina Caso (2013) and Lauren Wiebe (2013) have scored more in a season.
• Caveny has moved into fifth-place on the all-time leading goal scorers list at VC with her 54 to date, passing Hayley Beach '17 and her 52 at Montclair State.
• The only two losses this season for Vassar have come to New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) teams.
• Vassar hasn't had a top-five goal scorer in the Liberty League ever, the closest was Katherine Simon in 2007 with her 10 goals, which was sixth-best in the conference.
• Vassar is 4-0 at home this season, having outscored opponents on the season 20-2 over the four victories.

 
A Look At The Engineers (1-6, 0-0 Liberty):
 

• The Engineers of RPI have had a tough start to the season, going 1-6, but the team has played some difficult opposition dropping two games to ranked opponents.
• RPI had posted two goals a game this year, and is fourth in the league in shots, but has allowed a Liberty League high 23 goals.
• Mikaela DiBello has led the team with 5.00 shots per game this season, but has potted just three scores in 2017. She does have three assists as well for RPI.
• Taylor Clink has a team-best five goals, sitting in fifth place currently in the Liberty League.
• Rachel Kaufman has allowed 17 goals this season, making a league-high 52 saves thus far this season. Her 8.67 saves per game are the second-highest in the Liberty League.
• Emma Lewis has posted three defensive saves to lead the squad this season, while four others have also made defensive clears.
• RPI has allowed two or more goals in every game this season, including four in its last outing against Castleton.

 
Against RPI All-Time: The Brewers are 10-18-1 against the Engineers all-time, falling last year 1-0 in Troy, NY. Vassar has captured the last two games in Poughkeepsie, a 2-1 win in 2014 and a 1-0 victory in 2015.
 
Up Next: Vassar will travel to Hartwick College (5-2) on Wednesday, September 27 at 4 p.m. for a non-conference battle with the Hawks.