SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The Union College field hockey team fought hard in a 1-0 loss to first-place Vassar College on Friday afternoon, but the Garnet Chargers still received good news off the field as Union qualified for the Liberty League Tournament for the first time in 13 years.
 
Union (8-7, 3-3 Liberty League) fell into fifth place in the conference standings, but the news was not all bad for the Garnet Chargers, as William Smith College's victory over Skidmore College clinched fifth place for Union, meaning that the squad will be headed to the postseason for the first time since 2010.
 
The first 30 minutes was played evenly on both sides of the field, with Vassar (10-4, 5-1 Liberty League) posting an 8-3 edge in shots and Union recording three corners to the Brewers' two. The game looked destined to head into halftime scoreless until a late strike by the visitors, with Sydney Kovel redirecting a pass from Molly Zahnleuter into the net off a penalty corner with 26 ticks left on the clock.
 
After going without a shot in the third period, Union applied plenty of pressure to the Brewers defense in the final frame, coming inches from tying the game on multiple occasions. With under four minutes left, a great redirection from senior Sophie Ruhl came a few inches away from the near post with the goalie beat. Sophomore Megan Dorsey also just missed the game-tying tally with 1:48 on the clock, as her shot off a penalty corner clanged off the post and out.
 
Vassar finished with a 14-6 edge in shots, but sophomore Sophie Brady returned to action and made seven saves to keep her team in the game. The Garnet Chargers also finished the day with a 6-3 edge in penalty corners.
 
With a spot in the postseason secured, Union will head to Troy for the conference regular-season finale against Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on Sunday beginning at noon.