Box Score | RPI Fanshop

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - Senior midfielder Lauren Wiebe scored just before halftime, lifting the Vassar College field hockey team to a 1-0 victory on Senior Day over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Liberty League action from Weinberg Field.

With the win, the Brewers (10-5, 3-3 Liberty League) clinched a spot in the Liberty League Tournament for the third consecutive season, while also extending their home win straight to 16 games. RPI (9-6, 3-3 Liberty League) is tied with Vassar in fourth place, but needs Rochester to lose to St. Lawrence on Sunday for a chance to play in the post-season.

The game was emotional for both teams from the start, but neither team could get onto the board as both goalies were stout from the get go. RPI keeper Rachel Kaufman got some help from her defensive group early, as Mac Reininger kept the game scoreless in the ninth minute on a defensive save of a Wiebe attempt.

Later in the first half, the Brewers had their best chance to that point when they were awarded a penalty stroke at the 27:57 point of the contest. Wiebe stepped forward for the attempt, but a diving Kaufman thwarted her attempt. Minutes after that, Wiebe was again denied by an RPI defender, this time watching as Kate Batzinger made a great play on the goal line to keep the game goalless.

VC finally broke the tie in the 33rd minute, as Wiebe's persistence paid off with her eighth goal of the season. After a penalty corner, the ball was sent into the circle and 10 players pushed toward the goal line in scrum fashion, with Wiebe finally muscling the ball past Kaufman for the lead. The goal was Wiebe's 30th all-time tally, tying her with Emily Love for second on the VC goal scoring list. The Brewers kept the pressure on, and nearly doubled their lead just before halftime but Reininger made another defensive save on a deflection from Wiebe to send the game into intermission at 1-0.

After the break, the game was played mostly in the midfield with only five total shots being fired. RPI had both penalty corners in the closing stanza, but a defense led by Alyssa More was able to hold off the persistent Engineer attack. Late in the game, RPI had a good chance on a shot by Hana Murphy, but freshman Paige Amico made her fourth and final save of the game to lift VC to the win.

Vassar outshot its visitors Saturday afternoon 16-7, and held an 8-3 edge in the penalty corner column. Kaufman stopped seven shots, while Amico tallied her fifth shutout of the season while playing all 70 minutes.

Vassar College will continue its three-game home stand on Wednesday evening at 7 p.m., hosting the University of Scranton for a non-conference tussle on Weinberg Field. RPI will head to Castleton University on Wednesday for out-of-league action.