ITHACA, N.Y. – After shutting out Skidmore College 3-0 on Tuesday, the No. 5 seeded Ithaca College women's soccer team will travel to Poughkeepsie on Friday for a showdown against the top seeded Vassar College Brewers. The Liberty League Championship semifinal matchup will take place at 1:30 p.m. at Gordon Field.
   
SCOUTING NO. 1 VASSAR (14-3, 8-1 LL): The Brewers secured the No. 1 seed for the first time in program history and have appeared in the United Soccer Coaches Top-25 poll for seven consecutive weeks, checking in at No. 20 in the latest rankings. Vassar and Ithaca met earlier this season on September 27, with the Brewers earning a 1-0 victory.
 
Offensively, Vassar leads the Liberty League with 48 goals and 35 assists, averaging 2.82 goals per game. First year standout Ava Holman paces the attack with nine goals, while Gianna Panarelli and Sonya Franklin have each scored eight. Holman has scored four game-winning goals while Panarelli has netted three as each have been clutch for the Brewers.
 
In goal, Laura Shea has started 16 of 17 matches, posting a 0.81 goals against average, while making 48 saves on the year.
 
SCOUTING NO. 5 ITHACA (8-5-4, 4-3-2 LL): On Tuesday, the Bombers advanced past No. 4 seed Skidmore with a 3-0 victory in the Liberty League quarterfinals. Zara Nourie, Ava Detorie, and Lilyana Baldi each found the back of the net. Baldi and Detorie are tied for the team lead with three goals apiece, and both have contributed two assists this season.
 
A hallmark of Mindy Quigg's teams, Ithaca boasts the top defensive unit in the Liberty League. The Bombers' 0.41 goals-against average ranks first in the conference and is 19^th nationally in Division III, having allowed just seven goals all season. Sophomore goalkeeper Katrina Varnum has played nearly every minute of the season, recording 64 saves and nine shutouts— tied for 12th nationally.
 
SCOUTING NO. 2 WILLIAM SMITH (11-2-3, 7-1-1 LL): William Smith closed the regular season with a scoreless draw at RPI, snapping a seven-game winning streak. The Herons will host the second semifinal against RIT on the opposite side of the bracket. It was a high scoring affair in their last meeting with William Smith squeaking out a 3-2 win in Rochester.
 
Senior Ruth Hotaling leads the Liberty League with 12 goals and 25 points, ranking 56th nationally in total goals. Defensively, William Smith has allowed just 11 goals this season, the second fewest in the conference. In goal, Antonia Goerke has played the majority of minutes, posting a 0.72 goals-against average, an .872 save percentage, and eight shutouts.
 
SCOUTING NO. 3 RIT (9-3-6, 5-3-1 LL): RIT advanced to the Liberty League Championship semifinals with a 1-0 win over sixth-seeded Union on Tuesday. Senior forward Elena Onodera scored the game-winner in the 56th minute to lift the Tigers into the next round.
 
Onodera leads the Tigers with a team-high 15 points on seven goals and one assist. RIT has featured a balanced attack this season, with 14 different players finding the scoresheet. In goal, Emily Sanchez has started 16 matches, recording six shutouts and posting a 0.72 goals-against average—the third-best mark in the Liberty League.
 
The winner of Friday's semifinal in Poughkeepsie will take on the winner of the William Smith and RIT semifinal at the highest remaining seed on Saturday for the right to represent the Liberty League in the NCAA Tournament.