Brewers Drop Liberty League Opener to Clarkson

POUGHKEEPSIE – The Vassar College Women’s Lacrosse team suffered its third straight defeat Saturday afternoon following a 14-9 home loss to Clarkson in both team’s conference opener. Tess Billings scored three times and senior Lola Wright totaled three points and seven draw controls for the Brewers.

Saturday’s loss drops Vassar to 1-4 overall on the season and 0-1 in conference play, while the Golden Knights improve to an unbeaten 4-0 and 1-0 in Liberty League action.

A tightly contested first quarter saw Clarkson hold a 2-1 lead through 15 minutes.

Julia Lavarnway scored twice around a Reilly Mulcahy goal for Vassar to account for the all the scoring in the first period.

Clarkson started the second quarter with the first four goals, including two from Madelynn Barnum, to open a 6-1 lead with 3:15 left before halftime.

Natalie Daigle stopped the scoring run with a goal at the 2:45 mark of the second quarter to bring the Brewers to with 6-2.

The visitors tacked on two more goals in the final two minutes of the quarter to carry an 8-2 lead into the intermission.

Clarkson closed the opening 30 minutes with a slim 12-10 advantage in shots, including 10-4 in shots on target.

Vassar controlled draw controls prior to the break, winning nine of the 12 contested.

First half groundballs went to the Brewers by a slim 10-8 margin.

Clarkson pushed its lead to 11-2 with the first three goals of the third frame.

Emma Torkelson stopped the Golden Knights’ run at the 6:02 mark of the third quarter before Billings scored for the first time in the game at the 2:23 mark of the period to bring Vassar to within 12-4 heading into the final stanza.

Following a Gabby Cranfield goal to open the fourth quarter for Clarkson, Vassar ripped off three straight goals, including two from Billings, to pull to within 13-7.

Wright and Karina Gyllenhaal closed out the scoring in the game with goals just 10 seconds apart to make the score the final 14-9 decision.

For The Brewers
With Saturday’s hat trick, Billings moves into the team lead in scoring with eight goals.

Wright finished off a strong game with a goal and two assists to go along with a team-high seven draw controls, a groundball and a caused turnover.

Daigle finished the day with a goal and an assist while adding two groundballs and a caused turnover.

Riley Kelly led the team with three groundballs.

Torkelson closed the contest with a goal and a team-high two caused turnovers.

Lauren Johns suffered the loss in goal, making four saves and collecting two groundballs.

For The Golden Knights
Lavarnway closed a big afternoon with three goals and four assists while adding a groundball.

Barnum scored four times, collected two groundballs, caused three turnovers and won a pair of draw controls.

Hailey Millington scored twice and assisted on a third goal.

Cranfield finished the day with a goal and an assist.

Julia Patterson and Rylee Ganter each scooped two groundballs and won a draw.

Jennaca McGill earned the win in goal with seven stops and two groundballs.