2018 NCAA Division III Field Hockey Program | Live Video | Full Bracket

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – The No. 5 Vassar field hockey team (18-1) faces No. 7 TCNJ (15-4) on Saturday. In a season of firsts, this marks the first time these two teams have met.
 
The Brewers automatically qualified for the NCAA Tournament after earning their first Liberty League title with a 1-0 win over No. 9 Rochester on Saturday. Vassar's only loss this season came on Sept. 7 to Christopher Newport, and since then has won 16 straight.
 
Five members of the Vassar squad were name all-league with Monica Feeley (Harrisburg, PA) earning defensive player of the year honors. Head coach Michael Warari was also named coach of the year. The Brewers have nation's second toughest defense, allowing only seven goals all season.
 
First-teamers Megan Caveny (Cicero, NY) and Cristina Lopez (Timonium, MD) have helped the Brewers' offense to 32 and 27 points, respectively, Alyssa More (Wilmington, DE) and Emily Poehlein balance the scoring out. More has 30 points (11 goals, eight assists), while Poehlein has 13 goals; six of which were game winners.
 
TCNJ is no stranger to the national tournament, qualifying for its fifth-consecutive year. The Lions won the 2014 NCAA Title and reached the semifinals last season before falling to No. 1 Messiah 1-0. TCNJ currently sits at 15-4 overall, and is coming off a 3-0 victory over Keystone in the opening round. The Lions currently average four goals a game, while allowing only .95 goals a game.
 
The team has a balanced offense with four players scoring 11 or more goals this season. Cayla Andrews (17 goals, six assists), Tori Tiefenthaler (15 goals, six assists), Kayla Peterson (13 goals, 11 assists) and Hannah Tori (11 goals, three assists) have been the main playmakers. Caroline Quinn also adds 10 assists for the Lions. Five players were named All-NJAC with defender Lauren Cammarata being named NJAC Rookie of the Year.
 
In goal, Maddie Beaumont has started all 19 games while recorded six shutouts. She has a .94 goals against average with 71 saves.
 
Game is on Nov. 10 at Middlebury College's Kohn Field with a 2 p.m. start time.