POUGHKEEPSIE, NY - Following Tuesday evening's 2-1 victory over fifth-seeded Union in the First Round of the Liberty League Championship, the fourth-seeded Vassar College Field Hockey team heads to top-seeded Ithaca on Friday afternoon for a semifinal matchup beginning at 4:00 p.m. Live stats and video will be available for those who are unable to attend.

FIRST ROUND VICTORY

• The Brewers earned a 2-1 victory over the Garnet Chargers on Tuesday evening as sophomore Sydney Kovel and senior Kelsey O'Connell supplied the two goals for Vassar.
• Senior Hailey Brigger and first year Karina Hoffman each recorded an assist in the win.
• Senior Sarah Dumaresq earned her 10th victory of the season and made two saves in goal.

VASSAR AT A GLANCE

• The Brewers concluded the regular season with a 10-6 overall record and a 5-2 mark in Liberty League play, with a victory over nationally-ranked Kean University on September 19.
• Vassar's offense is led by sophomore Sofia Beseth, who leads the team in goals with nine and points with 20. Senior Jaclyn Narleski is second on the team in goals with seven and points with 16 while classmate Hailey Brigger is the team leader in assists with six and has 12 points on the year.
• The Brewers backline is led by seniors Heidi Compton, Kate Neikirk and Adah Anderson as Compton is tied for the conference lead in defensive saves with six. Neikirk has recorded five defensive saves on the season while Anderson has made two defensive saves.
• Senior Sarah Dumaresq has started 16 of the 17 games in goal for Vassar as she has made 19 saves and has posted a goals against average of 1.21. First year Grace Wiley has played in 10 games this year and made one start while recording 21 saves and recording a goals against average of 1.50.

SCOUTING THE BOMBERS

• Ithaca wrapped up the regular season with a 13-5 overall record and a 6-1 mark in conference action as they are currently ranked #25 by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association poll.
• The Bombers are led by Natalie Descalso, who leads the team in points with 22 and has a conference-leading 12 assists. Juliana Valli leads the team in goals with nine and is second in points with 20 while Meara Bury has tallied seven goals and is third in points with 16.
• Emma Garver and Nicole Fortunato each have recorded a defensive save on the season.
• Alex Clough has started 16 of the 18 contests this season while making 55 saves and recording a goals against average of 0.98.

REGULAR SEASON MATCHUP

• Descalso scored the game-winning goal early in the fourth quarter to send Ithaca to a 2-1 victory over Vassar on October 22 in Poughkeepsie.
• Senior Tori Baker scored her fourth goal of the season and recorded five shots along with Beseth tallying six shots.
• Descalso and Bury each tallied a goal while Garver recorded an assist and Clough earned the win in net as she made six saves.

POSTSEASON SCHEDULE

• SEMIFINALS
  • (4) Vassar vs (1) Ithaca - 4:00 p.m.
  • (3) Rochester vs (2) William Smith - 4:00 p.m.
• CHAMPIONSHIP
  • Semifinal Winners (Highest Remaining Seed) - Time TBD

RECENT CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY

• This is the 10th straight season that Vassar has reached the Liberty League Championship Semifinals.
• The Brewers were Liberty League Champions in 2018 and 2021 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament Second Round in 2018.
• Ithaca has reached the semifinals in each of the last three seasons.
• The last matchup between the two teams in the Liberty League Championship was in 2021 when the Brewers defeated Ithaca 1-0 in overtime in the Liberty League Championship match.

FOLLOW ALONG LIVE

• Live Video
• Live Stats