POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – Despite over a year off from competition, the young Vassar field hockey team looked in form by defeating Smith College 5-1 in Wednesday's season opener at Weinberg Field. Five different Brewers scored in the win.
Both teams had to adjust to the pouring rain early on, and either side took only one shot within the first ten minutes. Sophomore Maggie Werner (Berkeley, CA) crossed the ball from the left side of the Smith net to junior Avery Bauman (Westbrook, CT), who then chipped the shot in for the opening goal at 4:26. Smith responded with under three minutes by taking a penalty corner. Laura Dreher fired the shot on goal, but sophomore goalkeeper Sarah Dumaresq (Barnstable, MA) made the save.
Vassar tacked on one more goal late in the first quarter. Sophomore Hailey Brigger (San Diego, CA) took a strong attempt from the top of the circle following a penalty insertion. Then first-year Gianna Trunfio (Clinton, NY) redirected the ball into the back of the net for her first-career goal.
The Brewers held the Pioneers scoreless in the second quarter while allowing just one shot as opposed to Vassar's eight. Smith was able to keep it 2-0 heading into halftime despite the Brewers keeping up the offensive pressure.
Vassar continued its momentum early in the second half, with junior Ella Pearl (San Francisco, CA) taking her shot deflection for the third score of the afternoon. Then at 5:19, senior Sophie McGrath (Yarmouth, ME) found the goal after a scramble in front of the Pioneers' net to put the Brewers ahead 4-0.
Smith edged Vassar 4-3 in shots in the fourth quarter and nearly scored when Victoria Mellow launched an attempt in the right corner of the net. Sophomore Adah Anderson (San Diego, CA) was able to slip behind Dumaresq to earn the defensive save. A penalty stroke was awarded to Smith's Dreher soon after, but Dumaresq read the shot attempt and made the save in the upper left corner of the net.
The Pioneers eventually broke through the Brewer defense, though, scoring off a penalty corner at 7:19. Elena Korinek inserted to Dreher, who quickly passed off to Abbey O'Meara for the goal from the top of the arc.
Vassar responded with under five minutes remaining on its own penalty corner. Sophomore Kelsey O'Connell (Chapel Hill, NC) fed the pass to Brigger at the top of the circle. Brigger one-timed the shot into the net for her first collegiate goal to close the game 5-1.
The Brewers held a 27-9 shot advantage while recorded 12 penalty corner attempts. Dumaresq finished the day with three saves, while Smith's Channy Cornell had 13.
Vassar returns to action on Fri. Sept. 3 for the first day of the Betty Richey Tournament. The Brewers are set to host Marywood at 4 p.m. on Weinberg Field.
