Nov. 14, 2008
BLOOMSBURG, PA - Sophomore F Sammy Macy (Tewksbury, MA) scored two goals and sophomore F Katie Enaire (Amesbury, MA) added one as UMass Lowell defeated Bentley University, 3-2, Friday in the NCAA Field Hockey Tournament Semifinal at the Bloomsburg University Sports Stadium.
With the victory, UMass Lowell improved to 20-4 and meets the host Huskies in the NCAA Championship Sunday at 1:00. The match is viewable in its entirety by logging on to: http://www.bloomu.edu/sports/fh08/fh08ncaa.shtml.
The loss halted a 16-match win skein for the Falcons, who capped a stellar season with a 17-5 record.
"I felt we dominated over the first 30 minutes," said Head Coach Shannon Hlebichuk. "We just kept possession. We kept the ball small."
Sunday's clash with Bloomsburg will mark the fourth time in six years the two teams have met for the NCAA Championship. Bloomsburg won the 2003 title (4-1) and the 2007 championship (5-2) in Lowell while the River Hawks stunned the Huskies (2-1 in overtime) in 2005 at Shippensburg University. The Huskies defeated Shippensburg, 3-2, in overtime in the other semifinal.
"Bloomsburg played fast and furious, very skilled and very disciplined," Hlebichuk said. "They have the leading scorer in Division II history in Jamie Vanartsdalen (37 goals, 20 assists this season), so we have to be on defensively.
"We need to take advantage of every opportunity," she added. "Bloomsburg does not give up much defensively."
Macy opened the scoring in the 13th minute when she redirected a shot from senior M Michelle Harrington (Rockport, MA) off a penalty corner. Enaire doubled the lead in the 20th minute when she deflected home a cross by junior M Molly Clay (Rockport, MA).
The Falcons pulled a goal back in the 30th minute when junior M Courtney Bartlett found herself with space in the circle after a corner and blasted a shot through traffic.
Macy continued her stellar form and gave the River Hawks a 3-1 cushion four minutes into the second half when she redirected a shot by sophomore D Jaime Hadley (Chelmsford, MA).
Bartlett notched her second of the game in the 48th minute to cut the lead to 3-2, but the Falcons could muster no closer.
"Defensively, I thought we were solid," Hlebichuk said. "I thought Ashley Smith (Killingworth, CT) and Missy Seeley (East Hampstead, NH) were outstanding.
"Bentley was looking for through-balls and Ashley completely shut down the left side."
The River Hawks outshot Bentley 13-6 overall and 6-4 on target, and also had a 16-7 advantage on penalty corners. Junior goalkeeper Alyssa Sliney had three saves while sophomore goalkeeper Amy Carbon (Bellingham, MA) stopped two shots.
NCAA Division II Field Hockey Tournament Semifinal
UMass Lowell 3, Bentley 2
At Bloomsburg, PA
Goalkeepers
Alyssa Sliney (BEN): 3 saves, 70:00
Amy Carbon (UML): 2 saves, 70:00
