Poughkeepsie, N.Y. – For the first time in program history, the Vassar College Women's Soccer team will host a Liberty League Championship Semifinal as the top seed Friday afternoon when it plays host to Ithaca at Gordon Field. Kick-off with the Bombers is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. with Live Stats and Video available for those unable to attend.
At A Glance
- Vassar enters Friday's contest at 14-3 overall, a program record for wins in a season, and completed the conference slate 8-1.
- The Brewers have been ranked in the United Soccer Coaches Top-25 seven weeks, including #20 in the latest poll released on November 4.
- Vassar has crept inside the top-20 on three occasions, rising to as high as #17 on October 14.
- The Brewers enter Friday's semifinal leading the Liberty League in scoring with 2.82 goals per game and scoring margin, outscoring opponents by better than two goals per outing.
- The Brewers currently lead the Liberty League in goals (48), assists (35) and points (131) and rank tied for third in goals allowed (13).
A Look At The Brewers
- Vassar features five players with at least four goals on the season, led by nine markers from First Year Ava Holman (St. Louis, MO).
- Holman leads the Brewers in goals, game winning goals (4) and points (21).
- Gianna Panarelli (Jensen Beach, FL) and Sonya Franklin (Lancaster, PA) have each potted eight goals to date for Vassar with the duo ranked second and third on the team in points with 19 and 18, respectively.
- Senior Riley McGrath (Coronado, CA) checks in with 16 points on the strength of six goals and four assists.
- Elena Valle (Rocky Hill, CT) has 12 points to date, scoring four times and assisting on four goals.
- Senior Rebecca Rodriguez (Santa Barbara, CA) leads the team in assists with nine and has added two goals for a total of 13 points.
- Laura Shea (Swarthmore, PA) has started 16 games in goal for the Brewers and turned aside 48 shots.
- Shea has won 13 games and produced five shutouts while working to a .800 save percentage and a 0.81 goals against average.
Scouting Ithaca
- The Bombers blanked Skidmore 3-0 in the First Round on Tuesday, improving their record to 8-5-4 overall on the season.
- Ithaca has won its last four games, outscoring its opponents 11-1 over that stretch.
- Ithaca is scoring just over one goal per game heading into Friday's contest, but has allowed just seven goals to opponents through 17 games.
- Lilyana Baldi and Ava Detorie lead the way in scoring with three goals, two assists and eight points apiece.
- Katrina Varnum has played 1,502:27 of a possible 1,530:00 in goal for the Bombers and has made 64 saves.
- Varnum has produced nine clean sheets in 2025 and holds a .901 save percentage and a 0.42 goals against average.
Regular Season Meeting
- Ithaca visited Gordon Field on September 27 with Vassar coming away with a 1-0 victory.
- Panarelli scored the game winning goal with just over two minutes left in the second half.
- Vassar outshot Ithaca 22-5 overall in the game and 11-1 in shots on goal.
- Shea made just the one save to earn the shutout victory.
- Varnum turned aside 10 Vassar shots in the loss.
Recent History Vs. Ithaca
- Since 2004, Vassar has a 4-5-2 record against Ithaca.
- Over the last six meetings, Vassar is 4-1-1, including wins in the last two matchups.
- Friday's game will mark the first time the two team's have played in the conference championship tournament.
Recent Liberty League Championship History
- Vassar is the top seed in the event for the first time and is in search of its first Liberty League title.
- 2025 marks the 11th time in the last 15 seasons there has been a championship that Vassar has qualified.
- Vassar has appeared in the Championship Final three times in program history, playing for the league crown in 2010, 2017 and most recently 2019.
What's At Stake
- The winner of Friday's semifinal in Poughkeepsie will take on the winner of the William Smith and RIT semifinal at the highest remaining seed for the right to represent the Liberty League in the NCAA Tournament.