Overtime Goal Lifts No. 6 Vassar Over Union

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The Union Dutchwomen put No. 6 Vassar field hockey to the test on Saturday afternoon, but the Brewers were able to slip by with the 1-0 overtime win at Frank Bailey Field. Senior Cristina Lopez (Timonium, MD) netted the game winner eight minutes into the extra period to keep the Brewers undefeated at 10-0 overall and 2-0 in the Liberty League. Meanwhile, Union slips to 3-6 and 0-2 in the conference. Defenses on both sides set the tone early with only five first half shots being taken. The Dutchwomen shut down the Brewers in the first quarter, not allowing a single shot. At the 10th minute, Union nearly scored off a penalty corner when Charlotte Leyland made the first attempt. Freshman goalkeeper Jules Smith (Mullica Hill, NJ) deflected the ball away, but Sarah Wilkinson collected the rebound for another shot. Luckily, sophomore Sophie McGrath (Yarmouth, ME) was right behind Smith to make the defensive save to keep the game scoreless. Vassar tallied two shots in the seconds from Rylie Pope (San Diego, CA) and Sam Plante (Watertown, MA), but the game remained 0-0 heading into halftime. The Brewers began to lay the pressure on the Union defense in the second half, holding a 9-3 shot advantage. Sophomore Heidi Zahnleuter (Clifton Park, NY) made an early shot on goal, but goalkeeper Mary Beth Rudolf turned it away. In the fourth, Zahnleuter and Pope rattled off two shots on goal that were both saved by the Union goalkeeper. Union took the last shot in the final minute that sailed wide. Both teams came out firing shots in overtime, with Vassar outshooting Union 8-5. Junior Grace Amell (West Hartford, CT) had a shot turned aside off a penalty corner attempt and then Rudolph made three saves in a 30 seconds span to hold off the Brewers' attack. Union responded soon after, but Smith picked up two saves of her own. At the 68th minute Lopez found herself in a breakaway situation and brought the ball down the field. She moved in from the left side and shot the ball for her first goal of the season, giving Vassar the overtime win. Smith finished the day with five saves and now has three shutouts this season. Rudolf had 10 saves for Union. Lopez led the game with five shots and all of them were on-goal attempts. Vassar returns home on Sat. Oct. 12 for their Senior Day game against Ithaca. Game starts at 1 p.m.