Geneva, NY – The Vassar College Women's Soccer team was upended Friday afternoon in the Semifinal Round of the Liberty League Championship, falling at #T-11 William Smith by a score of 2-0. First Year goalkeeper,
Laura Shea (Swarthmore, PA), closed the game with five saves for the Brewers.
Friday's loss drops Vassar to 11-3-5 overall, while William Smith improves to 12-3-3 and will take on Ithaca Sunday afternoon in the Liberty League Championship Final.
How It Happened
- After the two teams had played three straight scoreless draws, William Smith opened the scoring just 6:34 into Friday's contest.
- Moira van der Putt scored what proved to be the game winning goal in the seventh minute, finishing off a passing play from Marissa Mastracco and Ava Ruppersberger to give the Herons the early 1-0 advantage.
- The Herson held Vassar to just four shots over the opening 45 minutes, outshooting the Brewers 6-4.
- Each team took one corner kick in the first half.
- Shea made three saves for the Brewers in the opening stanza.
- William Smith goalkeeper, Kristen Nelson, held Vassar off the board with two saves before the break.
- The Herons doubled their advantage in the 69th minute when Ruth Hotaling converted a penalty kick at 68:39 to push William Smith in front 2-0 with just over 20 minutes left to play.
- Vassar unleashed three shots following the Hotaling goal, but Nelson was up to the task on each attempt.
- Vassar outshot William Smith 8-7 in the second frame.
- Second half corner kicks went to the Brewers, 2-1.
- Shea turned aside two more shots after halftime.
- Nelson preserved the shutout with four second half saves for the Herons.
For The Brewers
- Shea made five saves on Friday for Vassar and now holds a 0.67 goals against average and an .848 save percentage.
- Lucy Hart (Portland, ME) and Cecelia Wager (Brookline, MA) each finished with two shots on goal for the Brewers.
- Madison Bouggess (Swedesboro, NJ) and Alice Crowley (St. Louis, MO) each closed the game with two shots for Vassar.
For The Herons
- van der Putt scored third goal of the season with all three game winning tallies.
- Hotaling scored for the fifth time and pushed her team leading point total to 19.
- Ruppersberger assisted on her third goal of the season.
- Mastracco picked up her first assist of the year.
- Nelson earned her eighth shutout of the season in goal with six saves for the Herons.
Game Statistics
- William Smith held a slim 13-12 advantage in shots, including a tight 7-6 edge in shots on goal.
- Vassar finished with a 3-2 advantage in corner kicks.
- Fouls in the contest went against the Herons, 13-11.
