Poughkeepsie, NY - Junior Sydney Kovel knocked home the game-winning goal with just under eight minutes left in the fourth quarter as the Vassar College Field Hockey team opened the season with a 2-1 triumph over Marywood at Weinberg Field on Friday evening.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Marywood opened the scoring with eight seconds remaining in the first quarter as Cydney Lahr knocked in a rebound after two saves from sophomore goalkeeper Grace Wiley to take the early lead.
• Vassar had a couple strong chances off penalty corners in the second quarter but Marywood goalkeeper Jenna Keagy made a save to keep the Pacers lead.
• The Brewers drew even at one in the third quarter with five minutes left as senior Tori Baker lifted a loose ball over Keagy to put Vassar on the board.
• Marywood threatened to regain the lead in the fourth period as Wiley made saves on Maria Tomada and Dariane Jones along with a defensive save from junior Gianna Hoover to keep the game tied.
• Kovel made a diving play in the circle off of a tip from sophomore Karina Hoffman with just under eight minutes remaining to push the Brewers to a season-opening victory.

FOR THE BREWERS

• Kovel and Baker supplied the goals for Vassar while Hoffman chipped in her first assist of the season.
• Junior Sofia Beseth and Baker each tallied a team-high four shots.
• Wiley earned the victory in goal as the sophomore made six saves.

FOR THE PACERS

• Tomada led the team in shots with five and shots on goal with four while Lahr tallied the goal for Marywood.
• Keagy made three saves in net in the loss.

A LOOK AT THE STATS

• Vassar outshot Marywood 15-9 but the Pacers held the edge in shots on goal at 8-5.
• The Pacers held a slim edge in penalty corners at 6-5.

UP NEXT

• Vassar plays host to SUNY Geneseo at 2:00 p.m. tomorrow afternoon at Weinberg Field
• Marywood heads to Montclair State on Sunday afternoon at 12:00 p.m.