Vassar Brewers Soccer Powers Past Gators, 4-0

By Amie Canfield

POUGHKEEPSIE – Powered by a pair of goals in each half, the Vassar College women’s soccer team notched a 4-0 non-league shutout against Russell Sage College on Wednesday at Gordon Field. The Brewers improve to 6-3-2 overall, while the Gators are now 4-6-1 on the season.

The Brewers got things going early in the opening half as junior forward Claire Karlin scored in the third minute. On a Vassar corner kick, the ball sailed into the middle of the box and was headed forward by senior captain Sydney MacDonald. Russell Sage keeper Kierstin Lynch dove for the save, but was unable to hold onto the ball as Karlin rushed in to send it into the left corner.

Vassar made it a 2-0 contest in the 13th minute, this time from sophomore midfielder Noelle Namba. On a ball crossed in by sophomore middie London Wilkes, Sage’s Lynch once again made a diving attempt, but the ball rolled loose in the box. Caroming off a Gators player, Namba was there to drill it into the open net for the tally.

Second half action saw Vassar open a three-goal advantage in the 72nd minute. Dribbling on the far side, junior midfielder Justine Tapert sent a long cross in to the middle. The ball sailed past Brewers rookie Riley McGrath and a Sage defender, landing on the foot of sophomore forward Madison Bouggess, who sent it sailing into the right corner past the keeper.

Less than three minutes later, the Brewers added their fourth score, this one from junior Ariana Pjetri. Namba earned the assist, chipping a pass up to Pjetri. From the top corner of the box, Pjetri lobbed a long shot in on goal that sailed in high for the final score of the contest.

Vassar held a 30-2 margin in shots for the contest, including a 16-1 advantage on goal.

The Brewers also had a 6-0 edge in corner kicks for the contest.

The defense, led by a number of stellar efforts to hold the Gators to just two shots, saw junior goalie Teresa Zimmer record one save in 79:08 of action. She yielded the final 10:52 of the contest to sophomore Julia Reigrut, who was not forced to make a save as the pair notched the combined shutout. For the Gators, Lynch made 12 saves on the afternoon.