Poughkeepsie, NY – The Vassar College  Field Hockey team opens the 2024 season with three straight non-conference home games, beginning with the season opener against Marywood on August 30. The home stand continues on August 31 against SUNY Geneseo and concludes with a home date against preseason #22 Wesleyan on September 7.
 
QUICK GLANCE

• Vassar closed out the 2023 season with an 11-7 overall record and a 5-2 mark against Liberty League opponents.
• The Brewers earned a berth into the Liberty League Championship Tournament where they defeated fifth-seeded Union 2-1 in the First Round before falling to top-seeded #25 Ithaca 3-0 in the Semifinals.
• The Brewers return All-Liberty League Honorable Mention junior Sofia Beseth, who led the team in goals with nine.
• Vassar will be tasked with NFHCA Second Team All-American Hailey Brigger along with All-Liberty League selections Kate Neikirk, Molly Zahnleuter and Heidi Compton.
• Off the field, Vassar saw three student-athletes named to the CSC Academic All-District along with 15 selected to the Liberty League All-Academic team.

STAT LEADERS

• Beseth led the Brewers in goals with nine along with points with 20 and scored a team-high three game-winning goals last season.
• Senior Tori Baker and sophomore Karina Hoffman each tallied four goals and nine points.
• Junior Sydney Kovel recorded four goals and two game-winning goals while senior Alexa Gwyn registered an assist.
• Junior Gianna Hoover returns as the leader of the defense as she recorded one defensive save and started in 15 games.
• Sophomore Grace Wiley looks to take the reigns in goal this season after appearing in 11 games last season and registering a 1.61 goals against average and made 21 saves in 372:33 minutes.

PLETHORA OF NEWCOMERS

• Vassar brings in nine first years this season along with two-sport junior Margo Gramiak to bring an instant impact to the Brewers all over the field.
• The first year class includes: Zoe Robinson, Sophie Rosenblum, Katherine Taylor, Jessica Pawloski, Ava Salvati, Bailey Mann, Ella Martin, Mackenzie Allen and Hannah Lees.

HEAD COACH

• Annie Kietzman Fowler returns for her second season for the Brewers after a double-digit win season in her first campaign.

PRESEASON POLL

1. Ithaca, 48 (6)
2. Rochester, 42 (2)
3. William Smith, 35
4. Union, 28
5. Vassar, 27
6. Skidmore, 23
7. St. Lawrence, 7

SCHEDULE

• Following the three game homestand to open the season, Vassar will travel to Montclair State on September 11 before returning home to take on Smith on September 14.
• The Brewers will hit the road for three games against Kean on September 17, Muhlenberg on September 20 and Ramapo on September 25.
• Vassar will then play host to two preseason nationally ranked foes in Christopher Newport on September 28 and Scranton on October 2.
• Liberty League play commences on October 5 when the Brewers travel to St. Lawrence before traveling to RPI on October 9.
• Vassar will play back-to-back home games against Skidmore on October 12 followed by Union on October 18.
• The Brewers will play its final two road conference matchups against nationally ranked foes Ithaca on October 20 and William Smith on October 25.
• VC will close the regular season with the conference finale against Rochester on October 27 and the home finale on November 1 against New Paltz.
• The Liberty League Championship begins on November 5 and continues with the Semifinal Round on November 8. The conference champion will be crowned on Sunday, November 10.