Box Score

FARMINGTON, Maine -- Fourth-seeded Husson University claimed the North Atlantic Conference Field Hockey Championship with a 2-0 win over third-seeded University of Maine at Farmington today at Prescott Field.

The Eagles (9-7) -- winners of seven in a row -- receive the NAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament. The Beavers finished their season at 10-8.

Kajsa Blindow (Morgan, VT) and Skye Ellis (Belfast, ME) each scored a first-half goal for Husson. Blindow's tally came off a penalty corner with a pass by Lorri Hiltz (Norridgewock, ME) making its way through the defense with Blindow knocking it into the empty goal at 4:58. Ellis scored off a long cross through the circle by Courtney Allen (Gardiner, ME) at 30:01 for the 2-0 advantage.

The two scores were more than enough for the Eagle defense. Spirited by the likes of Helen Berry (Belfast, ME), Diann Ramsey (Otisfield, ME) and Caroline Bochtler (Turner, ME), the Beavers were limited to one shot on goal by Emma Deans (Gorham, ME), which was turned back by Husson goalkeeper Kristen Capen (Leeds, ME).

The Eagles outshot Farmington 7-5, but the visitors fired six shots on goal. The Beavers took eight corners to Husson's four. Six of the Beavers' corners came in the opening half.

Capen recorded one save for the Eagles. Sarah Brown (Windham, ME) collected four saves for Farmington.

2009 North Atlantic Conference All-Tournament Team

Lorri Hiltz, Husson University, Most Valuable Player
Helen Berry, Husson University
Kristen Capen, Husson University
Jenika Kelley, Husson University
Jillian Morin, Husson University
Jessie LaCasse, University of Maine at Farmington
Alyssa St. Pierre, University of Maine at Farmington
Ashley Wentworth, University of Maine at Farmington
Alyssa Dunn, St. Joseph's College
Julia Ostrowski, St. Joseph's College
Marie Amaral, Castleton State College
Meghan Konowich, Castleton State College

November 4, 2009

Monks Knocked Out of NAC Playoffs

Box Score

STANDISH, ME - Skye Ellis '11 (Belfast, ME) scored a game-tying goal off a penalty corner with no time remaining in regulation and fourth-seeded Husson University (8-7, 4-3 NAC) won a stroke-off, 3-2, after two scoreless overtime periods to earn a 2-1 upset victory and deter #1 Saint Joseph's College (14-4, 7-0 NAC) in a North Atlantic Conference Field Hockey Semifinal match on Wednesday afternoon.

With 0:00 showing on the clock, Eagles forward Courtney Allen '11 (Gardiner, ME) sent a penalty corner pass from the right side into a cluster of green and white. Ellis managed to gain control of the ball and punched it past SJC goalie Meaghan Johnson '12 (Portland, ME/Cheverus) to the left corner of the net, sending the game to overtime. Per NCAA rules, the game shall be prolonged to permit the completion of a penalty corner at halftime and fulltime.

In the deciding frame, neither team scored on their first stroke-off attempts, but the tally was set at 2-2 after both weary clubs managed to convert their shots in the second and third rounds. In the fourth round, Husson defender Caroline Bochtler '12 (Turner, ME) scored on a shot off Johnson's blocker, while an attempt by SJC midfielder Jaimee Brett '10 (Otisfield, ME) was kicked away by Husson keeper Kristen Capen '13 (Leeds, ME). Leading 3-2 with one round remaining, Husson's Lorri Hiltz '12 (Norridgewock, ME) sealed the victory for the Eagles with a high shot to the left side.

Julia Ostrowski '10 (Albany, NY) seemed to have scored the game-winner when she notched her 18th marker of the year in the first minute of the second stanza. Alyssa Dunn '11 (Standish, ME) set up the play with a lead pass to the middle of the circle and Ostrowski finished with a score to the right side of the net. Unfortunately for the Royal Blue faithful, Husson netted the actual game-clincher over 70 minutes later.

Following regulation, the teams played two 15-minute periods of 7-on-7 play. Eagles forward Jillian Morin '11 (Manchester, ME) was stonewalled by Johnson on a penalty shot in the 10th minute of the first OT frame and SJC forward Kayla Nowell '11 (Bridgton, ME) nearly ended the match for the Monks on a point-blank attempt which was turned away by Capen in the 12th minute of the second OT period.

Husson keeper Capen made 12 saves, not including a pair of pressure-packed stops in the SO round, in the triumph and SJC goalie Johnson recorded 9 stops in the 100-minute battle.

In an earlier meeting between the evenly-matched in-state rivals, St. Joe's bested Husson, 3-2, in double-overtime at Lakeside Field.

Husson will play at third-seeded University of Maine-Farmington on Saturday in the NAC Championship, start time TBA.

November 4, 2009

Farmington advances to NAC Final with 2-0 win at Castleton

Box Score

Castleton, VT - Hattie Agnew (Guilford, ME) scored a pair of goals tolead the third-seed University of Maine-Farmington to a 2-0 win oversecond-seeded Castleton State College in North Atlantic Conference (NAC)field hockey semifinal action at Spartan Stadium Wednesday afternoon.

Agnew broke a scoreless tie 8:08 into the first half when she stuck hersixth goal off a rebound. Ashley Wentworth (North Berwick, ME) had theinitial shot that Castleton goalie Siobhan Whittemore (Springfield, VT)deftly turned away, but Agnew was waiting on the left post to knock itpast Whittemore's second dive.

Castleton regained some momentum late in the first half, and nearlytied the contest on several occasions. Molly Fraher (Goshen, CT) andMarie Amaral (Barre, VT) both pushed shots just wide off Castletonpenalty corners with less than 10 minutes remaining. With just over sixminutes remaining Fraher and Stephanie Paproski (Newtown, CT) each putshots on net, but Farmington goalie Sarah Brown (Windham, ME) was ableto turn both attempts away to keep the 1-0 lead into halftime.

The game remained 1-0 until Agnew struck again, just over 11 minutesinto the second half, redirecting an Emma Deans (Gorham, ME) assist pastWhittemore. Deans sent a rocket in at the cage from just outside thecircle, and Agnew got just enough of her stick on it to redirect theball inside the right post.

Castleton once again pressed, and nearly cut the lead in half, butthree-straight saves by Brown on shots from Amaral and Heather Brock(Bow, NH) extinguished the threat.

In what was an incredibly even match, Farmington held a slight 13-12edge in shots, but put nine on goal to Castleton's six both teams alsoattempted nine penalty corners each.

Whittemore ended up with seven saves in the loss as Castleton'sseason closes out at 9-10 overall.

Brown stopped all six shots that came at her cage, earning the shutoutas Farmington improved to 10-7. The Beavers advance to the NACTournament Final on Saturday, November 7. Farmington will host the gameversus Husson University at a time to be determined. Fourth-seededHusson advanced to the final by virtue of a 2-1 win over top-seed St.Joseph's (Me.) in penalty strokes.

October 31, 2009

Farmington Defeats Thomas to advance in NAC Field Hockey Championship

Box Score

FARMINGTON  -- The third-seeded University of Maine at Farmington field hockey team advanced in the North Atlantic Conference Tournament with a 3-0 first-round win over Thomas College today at Prescott Field.

The Beavers (9-7) are scheduled to visit No. 2 Castleton State College for semifinal action on Wednesday. The Terriers ended their season at 4-13.

Farmington scored twice in the first 15 minutes to gain control of the contest. Alyssa St. Pierre (Jay, ME) scored an unassisted goal at 10:36 and Ashley Wentworth (North Berwick, ME) followed at 14:57 off an Emma Deans (Gorham, ME) feed. Hattie Agnew (Guilford, ME) punctuated the Beavers' victory with a goal from Deans at 69:14 for the 3-0 final.

Sarah Brown (Windham, ME) needed to make just one save in recording the shutout for the Beavers. Farmington outshot Thomas 15-2 and took 13 corners to the Terriers' two.

Meg Denby (Copiague, NY) stopped six shots in the loss and was helped by teammates Alexis Evans (Embden, ME) and Nicole Grant (Lewiston, ME) with a defensive save each.

October 31, 2009

Husson Advances to NAC Semifinals With 4-1 Win Over Lasell

Box Score

Bangor, ME - Husson University advanced to the NAC semifinal game with a 4-1 win over Lasell College.  With the win, the Eagles improve to 7-7 and will travel to St. Joseph's on November 4.  Lasell ends their season with a record of 7-12.

Husson got on the clock 2:44 into the first half when Lorri Hiltz (So., Norridgewock, ME) slotted a shot on the left side of the Lasers' goal.  Allen was assisted by Jillian Morin (Jr., Manchester, ME).  Eighteen minutes later, Morin scored after Lasell goalkeeper, Christine Thornton (So., Canton, MA), made an initial save off a Kasja Blindow (So., Morgan, VT) shot.  Morin collected the rebound off the left post and scored sending the score to 2-0.

Husson's Courtney Allen scored a second half goal off of a pass by Jenika Allen who received the corner pass.  Seconds later, Husson's Emily Woodbury Emily collected her own rebound off a shot that bounced off Thornton's pads for the fourth and final Eagles goal of the day bringing the score to 4-0.

Lasell got on the scoreboard with 6:05 left in the game when Kasey Looney took advantage of a loose ball in front of the Husson goal and buried it in the back of the cage.  Looney's goal resulted from a blocked Sara Jannuzzi (Jr., Glen, NH) shot by Eagles goalkeeper, Kristen Capen (Leeds, ME).

Lasell's Christine Thornton recorded 9 saves on 27 Husson shots.  Husson's Kristen Capen tallied 5 saves on 13 Lasell shots.

The fourth seed Husson will travel to the first seed St. Joseph's College for the NAC semifinal game on November 4.  Game time has yet to be determined.

October 26, 2009

NAC Field Hockey Championship Seeding Announced

Following an undefeated conference regular season, St. Joseph’s College of Maine has secured the top seed in the upcoming North Atlantic Conference Field Hockey Championship. The Monks (14-3 overall, 7-0 NAC) earned a first round bye and will host a semifinal contest on Wednesday, November 4.

The University of Maine at Farmington (8-7 overall, 5-2 NAC) earned the third seed and will host Thomas (4-12 overall, 2-5 NAC) in a first round contest on Saturday, October 31. The Beavers edged the Terriers 2-0 when the teams met in conference play last week.

The winner of the Farmington/Thomas contest will meet defending champion Castleton (8-9 overall, 6-1 NAC) in semifinal action on Wednesday, November 4. The Spartans earned the second seed and first round bye.

Fourth seed Husson (5-7 overall, 4-3 NAC) will host fifth seed Lasell (7-10 overall, 3-4 NAC) in first round action on Saturday. The higher seeded Eagles turned back the Lasers 5-1 in conference action on October 24. The winner will travel to St. Joseph’s for a semifinal matchup.

The top six teams qualify for the NAC Championship. Predetermined tiebreaking procedures were used to seed teams with identical conference winning percentages. First round games will be played on Saturday, October 31 at the higher seed. Winners will advance to the semifinals held at the higher seed on Wednesday, November 4. Semifinal winners will meet Saturday, November 7 at the highest remaining seed. Game times and dates are subject to change. The NAC Champion receives an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Championship.

Championship Bracket