Fall has been busy for Vassar College Athletics. Multiple teams have earned national rankings, with one even landing in the top 10. And most fall teams have been competing since before the semester began. As the teams approach the end of their seasons, whether that is their playoffs or league championship races, their performances so far are overdue for a recap.
Men’s soccer
The men’s soccer team has put together an impressive season, sitting at a record of 9-2-2 overall and remaining undefeated in Liberty League play. The Brewers outscored opponents 8-0 in their first four Liberty League games, earning a United Soccer Coaches ranking of 10, nationally. The squad has emerged as a top 10 team in the country through a combination of high-powered offense and a gritty defense that has allowed just one opponent goal-per-game on ten shots-per-game. The Brewers’ performance has not gone unrecognized, with five players earning Liberty League honors: Clem Grossman, Joshua Lee and Arden Tobolski earning Liberty League Rookie of the week honors; Jared Fiske earnings a performer of the week and offensive performer of the week honor and Jacob Raphan earning a defensive performer of the week honor. The effort this year has been evidently balanced, with three players, Arden Tobolski (19), Jared Fiske (13), and Eli Torrey (12) logging double digit points on the year. The lads have three games remaining this year: at Ithaca on Saturday, Oct. 26 at 3 p.m., vs. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m., and vs. Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) on Oct. 30 at 2 p.m.
Women’s soccer
The women’s soccer team has come out to a hot start this year, earning a record of 8-2-4 overall and sitting fourth in a tight Liberty League table behind a Skidmore team who they had a close match with earlier this fall. The team came into the season with high expectations underscored by a highly touted recruitment class of ten first-years. The group has not disappointed, contributing 38 of the team’s 108 points this season, and 16 of the 41 goals this season. The first-years are headlined by forward Alice Crowley, who leads the team in goals with 12 (0.86 per game) and points with 27 (1.9 per game), earning Liberty League rookie of the week four times this season. The team’s success is a balance of offensive and defensive strength, allowing just 0.78 goals-per-game while scoring an impressive 2.93 goals-per-game, translating a 41-11 overall score versus opponents. Crowley alone has outscored the Brewers’ opponents. But, the Brewers’ accomplishments have been an absolute group effort as three separate goalkeepers have earned starts and contributed to the defensive effort, with first-year Laura Shea earning herself a Liberty League defensive player of the week honor. Of the 22 non-goalie players on the team, 17 players have tallied an assist or goal on the season. The Brewers have three games left with their next match at 2 p.m. vs Ithaca at home on Oct. 26, next on Wednesday, Oct. 30 at RPI at 7 p.m. and finally on Saturday, Nov. 2 at RIT at 2 p.m..
Women’s volleyball
The women’s volleyball team had a slow start to the season but has been finding their rhythm this year under first-year head coach Grace Campbell with two big wins in the past two weeks. The team sits at 4-12 this year, and seventh of nine in the Liberty League. The team is building momentum, finding their stride since mid-October. They started by picking up an impressive set at nationally ranked Ithaca College followed by a gritty 3-2 win over the highly touted Union College and finally an impressive 3-0 sweep over SUNY Cobleskill. Vassar’s performance this year is reflective of a young and improving squad, highlighted by second-year outside hitter Maura McAusland and 2023-24 Vassar Athletics Rookie of the Year and Liberty League First Team outside hitter Holland Kaplan. Both players were integral in the Brewers’ victory over the weekend, as McAusland tallied a team-high 17 kills, 18 digs, two blocks and an ace in the win over Union, with Kaplan adding 13 kills, a career-high five aces and 14 digs. First-year opposite hitter Erin Lovett tallied 12 kills and two blocks in the match. The team will look to keep the momentum going this Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. against Skidmore College and Saint Lawrence University, respectively, in Kenyon Hall.
Field hockey
The team entered the 2024 season after an impressive 2023 season where the team beat NCAA National Semi-finalist Kean as well as Liberty League champion William Smith under first-year head coach Annie Kietzman. Kietzman led the squad to five All-Liberty League selections along with three NFHCA All-Region III honorees, but this year the Brewers graduated 11 seniors from their strong 2023 squad and have felt that departure. The Brewers have fought hard this season with four of their 12 losses coming with a one-point margin, including a 1-2 loss to fifth-ranked Christopher Newport University. The squad finds themselves sitting at 3-12, good for eighth in the Liberty League. With close games and an energetic, young squad, the team looks to get back on track with three games remaining in the season, including a home match on Sunday, Oct. 27 vs. University of Rochester at 12 p.m.
Men’s and women’s cross country
The men’s cross country team got out to a hot start this year, finishing first of seven and first of 10 at the Vassar Season Starter and Ron Stonitsch Invitational, respectively. The team earned a fourth-place finish at the Wesleyan Invitational, where senior Jose Magaña recorded a sixth-place overall finish to lead the way for the Brewers. Next, the team earned a top-15 finish at the popular Paul Short Run at Lehigh—Magaña once again supported the Brewers with a 17th-place finish out of 373 total finishers. Most recently, Vassar earned a 13th-place finish in the Connecticut College invitational, beating nationally ranked Wesleyan. The Brewers will race in the Liberty League championships on Nov. 2 in Canton, NY.
The women’s cross country team has been on a tear this year, finishing in the top-10 in five out of their six total races this year, including three top-three finishes. The team started the year off with two first-place finishes at the Vassar Season Starter and Ron Stonitsch Invitational each. The strong season has culminated in the Brewers snagging a #24 national ranking. The nationally ranked squad went on to a second-place finish at Wesleyan after their strong home openers, headlined by sophomore Haley Schoenegge, who crossed the finish line second overall with a 6000 meter time of 21:20.06. Most recently, Vassar earned two top-10 finishes at the Connecticut College invitational. Highlights include Schoenegge racing to a fourth-place overall finish out of 277 total finishers and first-year Sarah France with a 18th-place finish out of 243 total finishers with a season-best time of 23:06.7. The Brewers will race in the Liberty League championships on Nov. 2 in Canton, NY.
Men’s rugby
The men’s rugby team has put together a perfect 7-0 season so far, shutting out their opponent in three of the contests and outscoring them 276-88. Most recently, the Brewers edged SUNY New Paltz 44-40, eight tries to four, despite going down 12 points after leading by 12 earlier in the contest. The team will be competing in the tri-state conference playoffs beginning on Oct. 27 in hope of capturing the championship title on Saturday, Nov. 9.
Women’s rugby
The women’s rugby team has earned an 8-0 start to their season, outsourcing their opponents by an absolutely staggering 412-53. The team has quadrupled their opponents’ scoring overall this year. Most recently, the Brewers have shut their opponents out in three straight matches by an aggregate score of 152-0. Two of the wins came against Columbia University, and one of the two by way of forfeit. The team will compete in the tri-state championship Nov. 3-9.
Women’s golf
The women’s golf team has endured a challenging start to their season. The Brewers started out with a win against SUNY Purchase on Sept. 14 and have had to fight hard since then. The squad traveled to Middlebury, Vermont for the George Phinney Classic where they earned a 10th-place finish, led by Teaen Sweet who finished tied for 30th place. Next, the team faced off at the Williams Fall Invitational where they managed a 19th-place finish. Finally, the team earned a second-place finish at the Union College Fall Classic. The Brewers’ season will continue in the spring on March 29 at home at the Vassar College Invitational.
As we enter the final week of October and multiple teams contend for a playoff spot, Brewers sports continue to heat up. Make sure to check out upcoming home matches where you can show up and support your Brewers!