POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – A balanced a team of veterans and newcomers highlight the 2019 edition of the Vassar women's lacrosse team as the Brewers open their season on Friday, March 1 at Drew. Game is set to begin at 4:30 p.m. in Madison N.J. at Ranger Stadium.
 
The Brewers return six players who started 12 or more games in 2018, including three All-Liberty League honorees. Vassar finished 5-10 overall and 4-6 in the Liberty League last season. Seniors Fiona MacLeod (Garden City, NY) and Sara Mathes (Philadelphia, PA) will be the captains for the year.
 
MacLeod, along with juniors Tessa Waters (Skokie, IL) and Kelly Pushie (Mahwah, NJ) pace the Vassar offense, accounting for 70 goals last season. MacLeod and Waters both were All-Liberty League honorable mention with MacLeod being second on the team with 44 points (22 goals, 22 assists). MacLeod was also second in groundballs (37) and caused turnovers (21), while ranking fourth in draw controls (23).
 
Waters started all 15 games while being second on the team with 33 goals. She added four assists for a total of 37 points, good for fourth on the team. Waters had a team-high 50 draw controls this season while collecting 22 groundballs and 11 caused turnovers. Pushie was Vassar's assist leader with 26, but also tacked on 15 goals. Sophomore attack Alessandra Fable (Orlando, FL) had 14 goals and Adele MacEwen (Beverly, MA) added eight.
 
The Vassar defense is anchored by All-Liberty League Second Teamer Sydney Nemphos (Baltimore, MD). The junior defender started all 15 games for the Brewers while leading the team both groundballs (38) and caused turnovers (27). Another returning contributor on defense includes Tillie Newcomb (Denver, CO), who grabbed 27 groundballs and caused 15 turnovers. 
 
Vassar heads into the season with seven freshmen added to the mix. They include five midfielders in Ella Foser (Bowling Green, OH), Caeli Porette (Stony Point, NY), Maya Barrett-Tzannes (Lexington, MA), Ashley Roberts (Bala Cynwyd, PA) and Sophia Gaffney (Albany, NY). Melanie Silverman (Southbury, CT) is the lone attack joining the squad, while Jackie Molloy (Buffalo Grove, IL) adds depth at goalkeeper.
 
Head coach Judy Finerghty enters her 26^th season at the helm of the team. She is joined by assistant coaches Sarah Lankton and Mark Feltch.