POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – Four different Brewers scored in the 4-0 victory against the Saints on Wednesday afternoon to lead the Vassar College field hockey team to the 2021 Liberty League Championship game. Vassar had one of its strongest performances of the season and held St. Lawrence to four shots. With the win, the Brewers advance to the championship game this Saturday to face the winner of the Ithaca and Rochester game.
The action remained light to start the first quarter and Ella Pearl recorded a shot on goal to get the Brewers moving. Saints' goalie Lucy Adiutori made the stop and kept it scoreless. At 5:37 in the first, junior Avery Bauman inserted the penalty corner to Hailey Brigger at the top of the circle. Brigger launched the ball straight through the St. Lawrence defense into the back of the net.
St. Lawrence had no answer afterward, and Vassar snuck in one more goal before the end of the quarter. On a corner, Katie Hieb passed to Leilani Llamas on the right of the Saints' net with under 30 seconds remaining. Llamas crossed the ball to Max Meijaard, who chipped the shot immediately into the left corner of the goal for the first of her career.
Vassar's defense continued to hold St. Lawrence at bay for the remainder of the half, and the Brewers scored again in the third quarter. At 1:52, senior Sophie McGrath fired a shot after a corner insertion. Junior Sam Kass was waiting on the right post and redirected the ball to make it 3-0.
The Saints had a chance to score in the fourth when Marlee Paterson had a shot blocked, and then Suzanne L'Hommedieu grabbed the rebound attempt. Sophomore Heidi Compton stayed in front of the goal line to make the defensive save. Vassar scored once more off a seemingly accidental attempt at 10:14. Pearl crossed the ball from the right side of the Saints' net, and the ball happened to curve in just enough for a goal.