POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – The No. 18 Vassar field hockey team brings its winning streak to three following a 5-3 victory over Stevens in the Betty Richey Championship game on Sunday afternoon. The Brewers have now won seven straight Betty Richey Tournaments and move to 3-0 on the season. Stevens, the runner-ups, now move to 1-1.

The Brewers scored on their first shot of the game following a penalty corner at 12:28. Senior Carina D'souza (Mountain Top, PA) inserted from the left side to junior Ella Pearl (San Francisco, CA) at the top of the circle. Pearl then one-timed the shot straight through the Ducks' defense to bring the Brewers ahead 1-0.

Vassar scored again four minutes later when first-year Leilani Llamas (Grapevine, TX) drove in from the right end line and quickly dished the ball off to junior Avery Bauman (Westbrook, CT), who was waiting three yards out from the Ducks' net. Bauman swept the ball into the left corner of the goal to give Vassar a 2-0 lead.

The Ducks kept it a one-score game near the end of the first quarter. Emily Smart passed from the right side to Natalie Logan, who chipped the ball in from five yards out.

Pearl scored again almost identically to her first goal at the 12:05 mark in the second quarter. D'souza inserted on the penalty to Pearl at the top of the arc, where she rocketed the ball right into the goal. Vassar controlled the rest of the second and nearly scored again when senior Heidi Zahnleuter (Clifton Park, NY) rattled off two quick shots on goal. Stevens' goalkeeper Emily Franco was there to stop both, though.

The Ducks scored two unanswered to tie the game 3-3 midway through the third. Smart redirected a shot by Aryana Muscara for a goal, and then Muscara scored off an assist from Lauren Jones at 5:42. Vassar retook the lead at 2:47 after a penalty insertion from Jacklyn Narleski (Basking Ridge, NJ). Sophomore Hailey Brigger (San Diego, CA) received the ball and fired a shot straight from the top of the circle. Senior Sophie McGrath (Yarmouth, ME) was in front of the net and tipped the ball just enough to put the Brewers up 4-3.

Vassar built up to a two-goal lead early in the fourth. D'souza once again inserted the ball to Pearl at the top of the arc after a penalty corner. Pearl shot forward, but this time D'souza helped redirect the ball into the back of the net.

Now playing under some pressure, Stevens tried to respond right away. Jones almost scored after a scramble in front of the Vassar goal, but sophomore Heidi Compton (Clark, NJ) made the defensive stop. The Ducks were held to two shots following that as Vassar held on for the victory.  

Vassar held an advantage in shots (18-11), while Stevens edged the Brewers 12-11 in corner attempts. Brewer goalkeeper Sarah Dumaresq (Barnstable, MA) made three saves, and Franco had a game-high eight.

McGrath was named the tournament MVP after the game, and Brigger, Bauman, Pearl, and Llamas were selected to the All-Tournament team.

The Brewers make a quick road trip to Western Connecticut State on Wed. Sept. 8 in Danbury, CT. The game is set to begin at 7:30 p.m.