Poughkeepsie, NY – Sophomore
Elena Valle (Rocky Hill, CT) scored a hat trick and totaled seven points on Saturday to lead the #17 Vassar College Women's Soccer team to a convincing 4-0 Senior Day victory over Skidmore. Prior to the contest, the Brewers recognized
Isabella Stevens-Mercado (Ann Arbor, MI),
Maddie Wolf (Mars, PA),
Cecelia Wager (Brookline, MA),
Grace Romano (Bordentown, PA) and
Gianna Panarelli (Jensen Beach, FL) before they played their final regular season home game for the Brewers.
With Saturday's win, Vassar improves to 9-1-4 overall on the season and 5-1-2 in Liberty League play with Skidmore slipping to 6-6-2 overall and 2-5-1 against league rivals. With the win coupled with a Union loss to William Smith, Vassar has jumped into second—place in the league standings with 17 points.
How It Happened
- Valle scored her first two goals in the middle stages of the first half 7:02 apart to give Vassar a 2-0 advantage.
- The eventual game winning goal came off a failed cleared that Valle deposited inside the right post at 21:51.
- The lead doubled at the 28:53 mark when Valle finished off a give-and-go at the top of the box with junior Alice Crowley (St. Louis, MO) to send the Brewers into the break with a two-goal lead.
- Vassar controlled the first half with a 12-2 advantage in shots and a 2-0 advantage in corner kicks.
- Coming out of halftime, Valle competed the natural hat trick in the 55th minute to spread the Brewers' lead to 3-0.
- Panarelli played a ball into the box from the left wing that Valle finished off at 53:45.
- The final goal of the game 2:03 later when Panarelli was the recipient of a Valle feed that she buried at 55:48 for the final four-goal decision.
- Vassar unleashed 10 more shots after halftime, outshooting Skidmore 10-3 in the second frame.
- Second half corner kicks went to the Brewers by a 2-1 count.
For The Brewers
- Valle finished off a career day with a career-high three goals and a career-best seven points for the Brewers.
- Following Saturday's output, Valle ranks third on the team in both goals with six and points with 16.
- Crowley picked up her third helper of the season and moves her team lead in points to 21.
- Panarelli recorded her team leading fifth assist of the campaign and sits second on the team with 19 points.
- Valle led the team with four shots on the afternoon.
- Crowley, Panarelli and Ava Holman (St. Louis, MO) all recorded a trio of attempts in the game.
- Laura Shea (Swarthmore, PA) earned the win in goal with on save in 62:35.
- Stevens-Mercado came on to play the final 27:25 and made a pair of saves.
For The Thoroughbreds
- Sophia Sayers made four saves in goal.
- Fiver different players recorded one shot in the contest.
Game Statistics
- Vassar held convincing advantages in both overall shots, 22-5, and shots on goal 9-3.
- Vassar took four of the five corner kicks in the tilt.
What's Next
- Vassar closes out the regular season on the road at Clarkson on October 31.
- Skidmore plays host to RIT next Saturday in its final regular season game.
