POUGHKEEPSIE, NY – On senior day, Vassar College senior Enya Cunningham scored on a penalty stroke with 3:06 remaining in regulation, lifting the Brewer field hockey team past No. 13 University of Rochester 2-1 in Liberty League play on Saturday at Weinberg Field.

The victory marked Vassar's sixth straight win, which is the longest of the season and established a new program record for consecutive triumphs. Vassar (11-1, 3-0 Liberty League) also beat a ranked opponent for the second time in two seasons Saturday, knocking off Skidmore College exactly one year ago today when the Thoroughbreds were also ranked No. 13 in the nation.

The Brewers would then test Rochester keeper Tara Lamberti early, but she was up to the task making three saves in the opening seven minutes.

Rochester (12-2, 4-1 Liberty) posted its best chance of the first half, as junior Michelle Relin hurdled downfield and fired a shot that just missed the left post. After that, Vassar regained control and forced Lamberti to make another four saves. At the end of the half, the Yellowjacket keeper would have eight stops to her credit.

The Brewers finally broke the stalemate with three minutes to go in the first half off of a penalty corner. Bianca Zarrella fired a shot that was deflected by Hayley Merritt.  Merritt gathered the ball and pushed it to Hayley Beach, who tallied her sixth goal of the season to put VC up 1-0.

The Brewers led in shots at the half 12-3, and also had six of the game's eight penalty corners at the break. After the half, both teams had chances but both Lamberti and VC keeper Amreen Bhasin were flawless.
 
With 61:20 on the clock though the Yellowjackets would equalize as Megan Keil pushed home a pass from Gina Cunningham for her fifth goal of the year.

Sensing overtime, the Brewers began to push the issue, and with just over three minutes to play, Zarrella was fouled in the circle and VC was awarded a penalty stroke. Vassar's Cunningham came forward, and though her stroke was mishit, it had enough to sneak under Lamberti for the game-winner.

The Brewers finished on top in the shot category 20-7, also holding a 9-4 advantage in penalty corners. Lamberti finished with 13 saves for Rochester, while Bhasin added three stops in the win for Vassar.

Rochester's next contest is at William Smith next Friday to conclude the Liberty League season