POUGHKEEPSIE, NY - The Vassar Field Hockey team enters the 2023 season on Friday afternoon as the Brewers will play host to Marywood before taking on Muhlenberg on Sunday afternoon at Weinberg Field. The Brewers finished the 2022 campaign with a 13-6 overall record and reached the Liberty League semifinals last season after finishing fourth in the conference standings.

THE KIETZMAN ERA:

• Annie Kietzman begins her first season as Vassar's head coach as she comes to Poughkeepsie following a six-year stint as the head coach at Washington College (Md.)
• During her time with the Shorewoman, Kietzman led the team to two Centennial Conference postseason appearances while setting program records for goals scored. Kietzman recruited and developed the 2017 and 2021 conference Rookie of the Year while also coaching four All-Region selections and 12 All-Centennial Conference Performers.
• Kietzman joins the Vassar College athletics department after spending six years at Washington College where she was also the Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for Athletics.

BY POSITION:

• Forwards
  • Two-Time NFHCA All-Region First Team and two-time Liberty League First Team selection senior Hailey Brigger returns as the leader in points with 23.
  • Senior Kelsey O'Connell, junior Tori Baker and sophomores Sofia Beseth and Sydney Kovel also return for the Brewers while first year Karina Hoffman looks to make an instant impact for Vassar.
• Midfielders
  • Seniors Maggie Werner, Molly Zahnleuter and Jaclyn Narleski all return in the midfield for the Brewers as they combined for 22 points last season. Senior Katie Hieb and junior Alexa Gwyn also return to bolster the Vassar midfield in 2023.
• Defense
  • Vassar's backline of seniors Kate Neikirk, Heidi Compton, Adah Anderson and Juliana Ishimine are back for 2023 as they held opponents to 1.02 goals per game and gave up just 20 tallies in 2022.
  • First year Anna Hazewindus and sophomore Gianna Hoover look to provide support in the Vassar defensive rotation.
• Goalie
  • Senior Sarah Dumaresq returns in net following back-to-back stellar seasons for the Brewers as she has posted a career goals against average of 0.93 in two seasons of action.
  • First year Grace Wiley enters the goalkeeping fray in 2023 following her high school career at Wakefield High School.

SCHEDULE OUTLOOK:

• Following this weekend's home contests, Vassar will play its first road matchup against Christopher Newport on September 9th.
• The Brewers will play their next six of seven matches at Weinberg Field with matchups against preseason nationally ranked foes Kean, MIT and William Smith along with RPI, Montclair State and Ramapo.
• Vassar will have a rematch of last season's semifinal matchup with Rochester on October 7th followed by road contests against Skidmore and Union.
• The Brewers will conclude its regular season schedule against Ithaca and New Paltz before the Liberty League Championships begin on October 31.

PRESEASON RANKINGS:

• William Smith received 46 points and four first-place votes, narrowly edging Rochester (45 points, three-first place votes) and Ithaca (38 points, one-first place vote) for the top honors.
• Vassar (29) and Skidmore (26) are not far behind in fourth and fifth respectively. 
• Rounding out the rankings were Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (16), Union College (16). and St. Lawrence (8).