November 4, 2006
Husson Downs UMF 1-0 in Women's Soccer Title Game
Bangor, ME - #2 Husson College women's soccer team won the North Atlantic Conference Championship and advanced to the NCAA III National Tournament with a 1-0 win over #4 U. Maine Farmington. Tatyanna Wolterbeek (Wells, ME) scored the game winning goal to lift the Eagles to the win.
Danielle Billings (Hampden, ME) served a corner up in front of the net and Samantha Homer (Charlton, MA) put the first shot on goal. U. Maine Farmington goalie Alix Raymond (West Hartford, CT) made saved, but Wolterbeek put the rebound in the lower left corner just 2:57 into the game for the only goal of the game. Wolterbeek got the start replacing NAC Player of the Year Shelby Pickering who missed the game due to a concussion suffered in the semi-final game against Mount Ida.
The Eagles made the goal hold up with strong defensive play from Shelby Morissette (Londonderry, NH), Laura Clark (Bangor, ME) and Meredith Homer (Charlton, MA) who limited U. Maine Farmington shot opportunities. Husson goalie Leah Drew (Caribou, ME) made 4 saves on 7 shots. Raymond had 4 saves against 9 shots for U. Maine Farmington.
U. Maine Farmington finishes there season at 13-7 while Husson is now 17-3-1. The 17 wins is a school recorded for Husson. The Eagles stretched their winning streak to 13 games which is also a school record. Husson has now recorded 13 shutouts on the season including 5 straight.
Husson will advance to the NCAA III National Tournament. The first round game will be played on Wednesday, November 8th. The NCAA will announce the tournament seedings on Monday, November 6th.
NAC Women's
Soccer All-Tournament Team
Tournament MVP: Shaina Goode, Husson (Sr. M)
Katie Nickerson, Husson (So. F)
Shelby Pickering, Husson (So. F)
Leah Drew, Husson (Sr. GK)
Danielle Billings, Husson (Sr. F)
Erin Campbell, UMF (Sr. F)
Amanda Byrne, UMF (So. D)
Katie Schwarz, UMF (Jr. D)
Jen LeDoux, Elms (Sr. F)
Tina Lempke, Elms (Sr. D)
Gailyn Rooslet, Mount Ida (Jr. D)
Andrea Wheeler, Mount Ida (Jr. D)
NAC Women's Soccer Tournament
| Quarterfinals - Sunday, October 29 at higher seeds | ||||
| (8) Wheelock | 1 | at | (1) Elms | 2 |
| (7) Bay Path | 0 | at | (2) Husson | 5 |
| (6) Castleton State | 1 | at | (3) Mount Ida | 2 |
| (5) Maine Maritime | 0 | at | (4) Maine-Farmington | 1 |
| Semifinals - Wednesday, November 1 at higher seeds | ||||
| (4) Maine-Farmington | 0 | at | (1) Elms | 0 - 2OT |
| UMF advances on penalty kick shootout, 4-3 | ||||
| (3) Mount Ida | 0 | at | (2) Husson | 5 |
| Championship - Saturday, November 4 at Husson | ||||
| (4) Maine-Farmington | 0 | at | (2) Husson | 1 |
NO. 4 MAINE-FARMINGTON ADVANCES PAST TOP SEED ELMS TO NAC TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
CHICOPEE, MA, Nov. 1, 2006 - Junior goalkeeper Alix Raymond (West Hartford, CT) stopped five shots and senior defender Susan Murray (Salem, NH) netted the game-winning goal in the sixth round of penalty kicks to lift No. 4 University of Maine-Farmington to a 4-3 win over No. 1 Elms College in Wednesday?s North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Tournament women?s soccer semifinal at Leary Field.
Following a scoreless regulation and two 10-minute sudden victory overtimes, the teams exchanged three goals apiece in the first five rounds of penalty kicks before Murray, who had not appeared in the game until that moment, converted in the sixth round to advance the Beavers into Saturday?s NAC Tournament championship game.
"I started to cry I was so nervous before my turn to kick," Murray said. "Our captain Erin (Campbell) calmed me down and I was able to score. It was definitely nerve-wracking."
"This was just a great college soccer game," Maine-Farmington 11th-year head coach Bob Leib said. "I told our players they had better be ready for penalty kicks because I really felt that was what this game was going to come down to."
Maine-Farmington (13-6-1), which had lost to Elms College 3-0 in the regular season meeting between the two teams back on October 15, will now play at No. 2 Husson College in Saturday?s NAC Tournament title game.
Husson advanced with a 5-0 shutout victory over No. 3 Mount Ida College in Wednesday's other semifinal. The winner of Saturday's title game receives the NAC?s automatic qualifier into the upcoming NCAA Division III Championship.
Elms College third-year head coach Ryan Kelly was quick to note the legacy left behind by the program's five graduating seniors, defender Tina Lempke (Holyoke, MA), forward Jen LeDoux (Easthampton, MA), midfielder Sarah Casagrande (Easthampton, MA), forward Chelsea Rose (Belchertown, MA) and defender Jill Jacobs (Douglas, MA). "Our five graduating seniors were great leaders for us this season and have laid the foundation for what this program has become," Kelly said.
Elms College sophomore goalkeeper Shannon Donnelly (Florence, MA) finished with six stops and also scored the Blazers? third penalty kick to advance the shootout to a sixth round.
Husson TO PLAY IN CHAMPIONSHIP
Bangor, ME - Katie Nickerson (Belfast, ME) scored two goals and assisted on one to help lead #2 Husson 5-0 over #3 Mount Ida College. The Eagles move to 16-3-1 and will advance to the NAC Championship game while Mount Ida finishes 12-8.
Nickerson scored the first Husson goal midway through the first half when she put home a rebound off a Danielle Billings (Hampden, ME) shot. She would score again 6 minutes later firing a shot past goalie Kyle Garvey (Queensbury, NY). Shaina Goode (Bucksport, ME) played a through ball to Samantha Homer (Charlton, MA) who then feed Nickerson for her second goal.
Tatyanna Wolterbeek (Wells, ME) finished the first half scoring off as she took a great cross from Danielle Lorusso (Sandwich, NH) and put it the back of the net.
Shelby Pickering (Lee, ME) added a goal which was assisted by Nickerson and Billings finished off the scoring on a direct kick from 30 yards out.
Garvey finished with 6 saves against 13 shots on goal. Leah Drew (Caribou, ME) recorded her 4th straight shutout and 12th on the season. She made 6 saves on 7 shots.
Husson has now won a school record 12 straight games heading into the NAC Championship. They will host U. Maine Farmington who defeated #1 Elms College 4-3 in penalty kicks. The NAC Championship will be played at 1:00 on Saturday, November 4th.
NO. 1 ELMS COLLEGE HOLDS OFF NO. 8 WHEELOCK, 2-1 IN NAC TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINALS
CHICOPEE, MA, Oct. 29, 2006 - Elms College senior forward Jen LeDoux (Easthampton, MA) netted her team-leading 14th and 15th goals of the year and the No. 1 Blazers held off a furious late-game rally to earn a thrilling 2-1 win over No. 8 Wheelock College in Sunday's North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Tournament women?s soccer quarterfinal game at Leary Field.
With the win, Elms College (14-6) now advances to host No. 4 University of Maine-Farmington (13-6) on Wednesday, November 1. Maine-Farmington punched its ticket into the semifinals with a 1-0 quarterfinal win over No. 5 Maine Maritime Academy on Sunday.
Wheelock, which was making its first appearance in the NAC Tournament in any sport, finished its season 7-11 overall.
LeDoux netted the game's opening goal in the 12th minute after she received a beautiful through-ball from freshman forward Krystyna Gagne (Methuen, MA), split a pair of defenders and beat Wheelock sophomore goalkeeper Alyce Jordan (Weymouth, MA).
LeDoux extended the Blazers' lead to 2-0 in the 51st minute when she intercepted an attempted clear by a Wheelock defender and blasted a shot from the top of the six-yard box past Jordan.
Wheelock freshman midfielder Amanda Siebert (Salem, CT) headed in a gorgeous cross from junior midfielder Ashley Dowd (Auburn, MA) in the 77th minute to cut the Wildcats' deficit to 2-1.
Wheelock continued to press in the game's final 10 minutes and nearly tallied the equalizer, but freshman midfielder Lindsey Lacourse's (Scarborough, ME) last-gasp effort on a bicycle kick was stopped by Elms College sophomore goalkeeper Shannon Donnelly (Florence, MA) as time expired.
Jordan finished with seven stops for the Wildcats in the loss, while Donnelly recorded four saves.
Eagles Advance Past Bay Path 5-0
Bangor, ME - #2 Husson won their 11 straight game 5-0 over #7 Bay Path College advancing to the NAC semi-finals. Shelby Pickering (Lee, ME) scored 3 goals to pace the Eagles. Husson is now 15-3-1 and Bay Path finishes the season at 9-7-1.
Pickering opened the scoring with a goal 11:22 into the game. Samantha Homer (Charlton, MA) set up the goal with a cross to Pickering. Kaylin Caron (Laconia, NH) scored the next Husson goal off an assist by Danielle Lorusso (Sandwich, NH) pushing their half time lead to 2-0.
Pickering scored a pair of second half goals both assisted by Katie Nickerson (Belfast, ME). Homer would add a goal of her own in the second half with Laurie Melen (Londonderry, NH) assisting on Homer?s goal as well as one of Pickering second half goals.
Facing constant pressure, Bay Path goalie Samantha Duffy (Northampton, MA) turned in a solid performance with 12 saves against 20 shots. Leah Drew (Caribou, ME) had 3 saves in recording her 11 shutout on the season including three straight.
Husson will next host Mount Ida College on Wednesday, November 1st at 2:00 PM. #4 U. Maine Farmington will travel to #1 Elms College on the same day for the other semi-final matchup.
Mount Ida Edges Castleton
State, 2-1
Mustangs advance to NAC Semifinals behind McLear's two goal
NEWTON, Mass. (Oct. 29, 2006) - Sophomore Elise McLear (Swansea, Mass./Case) recorded a pair of goals to propel the third-seeded Mount Ida College women's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over sixth-seeded Castleton State College this afternoon in North Atlantic Conference Tournament Quarterfinal action at the Mount Ida Athletic Stadium.
With the win, the Mustangs (12-7-0, 9-3-0 NAC) advanced to the NAC Semifinals, where they will meet second-seeded Husson College. Husson advanced by way of a 5-0 triumph over seventh-seeded Bay Path College today. The semifinal matchup will take place at Husson on Wednesday beginning at 2:00 p.m.
Castleton, the leagues reigning tournament champion and top ranked squad in the preseason, rounded out its 2006 campaign with an overall mark of 9-9-2. The Spartans went 7-4-1 against NAC foes during the regular season.
Neither team scored until the 71st minute, when McLear blasted a shot past Castleton junior goalkeeper Kim Allen (Newtown, Conn./Newtown) from 30 yards out to put Mount Ida in front 1-0.
Freshman Sarah Reaber-Spina (Starksboro, Vt./Mount Abraham Union) scored off a feed from junior Erin Hanlon (Hoosick Falls, N.Y./Hoosick Falls) less than two minutes later to knot things up at 1-1.
McLear then tallied the winner off a free kick in the 86th minute to boost the Mustangs to their first NAC Tournament victory since 2002, when they advanced to the Conference title match. McLear?s team-best ninth goal of the year was also her fourth match-winner of the season.
Mount Ida freshman netminder Kyle Garvey (Queensbury, N.Y./Lake George Central) stopped two shots en route to her ninth win of the fall. Allen made four saves in the contest.
Mrazik Scores to Lift UMF Women?s Soccer Past MMA, 1-0
First-year Jackie Mrazik (Mount Vernon, ME) scored an unassisted goal at the 63:44 mark to lift the fourth-seeded UMF women's soccer team (13-6) to a 1-0 win over fifth-seeded Maine Maritime this afternoon at Prescott Field in Farmington. With the win, the Beavers join the men's soccer and field hockey teams in advancing to semifinal action in their respective conference tournaments.
UMF had several scoring opportunities in the opening half, including a one-on-one situation midway through the period for Mrazik, who shot wide of the goal. The Beavers managed four shots in the opening period and outshot the Mariners, 14-0, in the contest.
In the second half, UMF maintained pressure in the offensive end. Following a corner kick, Mrazik received the ball 30 yards from the goal and, with space in front of her, lofted a shot that angled over the head of MMA goalkeeper Hillary Arris and into the netting for her sixth goal of the season. MMA applied late pressure and had its best chance to score turned away by UMF goalkeeper Alix Raymond (West Hartford, CT) in the closing minute, as she punched a cross out of the goal area.
UMF will travel to top-seeded Elms on Wednesday for a semifinal contest. Start time will be announced shortly.
October 26, 2006
NAC Women's Soccer Championship Seeding Announced
With an overall record of 13-6-2 including a 11-1-0 conference mark, Elms College will enter the upcoming North Atlantic Conference Women's Soccer Tournament as the top seed. The Blazers will host eighth seeded Wheelock (7-10-0 overall, 3-9-0 NAC) who tied for eighth in the conference standings and made the eight-team field following predetermined tiebreakers, when tournament play begins this Sunday, October 29.
Second seed Husson, who also posted an 11-1-0 mark in conference play, will host seventh seeded Bay Path (9-6-1 overall, 7-5 NAC). The Eagles (14-3-1 overall) lost at Elms 1-0 in late September. Since then, Husson has won their last 10 contests all conference games.
Defending NAC Champion Castleton State earned the sixth seed with a 7-4-1 record in conference play. The Spartans (9-8-2 overall) will travel to third seed Mount Ida (11-7-0 overall, 9-3-0 NAC) on Saturday. Fifth seed Maine Maritime (10-5-2 overall, 8-3-1 NAC) will travel down the road to fourth seed Maine-Farmington (12-6-0 overall, 9-3-0 NAC) for a quarterfinal contest.
The top eight teams qualify for the NAC Championship. Predetermined tiebreaking procedures were used to seed teams with identical conference winning percentages. Quarterfinal games will be played on Sunday, October 29 at 1:00 p.m. at the higher seed. Quarterfinal winners will advance to the semifinals held at the higher seed on Wednesday, November 1 at 2:00 p.m. Semifinal winners will meet Saturday, November 4 at the highest remaining seed. Game times are subject to change. The NAC Champion receives an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Championship.
NAC Women's Soccer Tournament - Bracket
| Quarterfinals - Sunday, October 29 at higher seeds | ||||
| (8) Wheelock | at | (1) Elms | ||
| (7) Bay Path | at | (2) Husson | ||
| (6) Castleton State | at | (3) Mount Ida | ||
| (5) Maine Maritime | at | (4) Maine-Farmington | ||
| Semifinals - Wednesday, November 1 at higher seeds | ||||
| Winner 1/8 vs. Winner 4/5 | ||||
| Winner 2/7 vs. Winner 3/6 | ||||
| Championship - Saturday, November 4 | ||||
| Semifinal Winners | ||||
