Vega was the lynchpin in women’s soccer’s 0-0 draw with No. 11 Lynchburg College in the first round of the NCAA Division III Women’s Soccer Championship Tournament on Saturday, saving 11 shots while stopping three penalty kicks, allowing the Hawks to advance in a 3-2 penalty kick shootout. Her netminding came up huge again on Sunday, when the Hawks continued their Cinderella-style run in the NCAA Tournament with a 2-1 overtime victory over Rowan University. Vega made six stops against the Profs, helping New Paltz attain its first-ever NCAA Tournament victory. Her save percentage has risen to .912 on the year, with 103 saves, and her goals-against average now stands at 0.45. Her 13 shutouts rank first in program history for a single season, with the next closest person totaling eight. Vega and the Hawks storm into the third round of the NCAA Tournament this weekend, facing No. 1 ranked Messiah College. This is Vega’s third New Paltz Athlete of the Week honor this season.
