 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
William Smith to host NCAA Field Hockey Championship
November 15, 2006
 |
McCooey Field will host the 2006 NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship, Nov. 17-18. (Photo by Ken DeBolt) |
GENEVA, N.Y.—The final preparations are underway for the 2006 NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship, Nov. 17-18, at William Smith College’s McCooey Field. The weekend’s action will feature four of the top field hockey programs in the nation.
In the semifinal round on Friday, Ursinus College will take on Lebanon Valley College at 11 a.m., followed by Bowdoin College and Messiah College playing at 2 p.m. The semifinal winners will meet in the championship match at 1 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for students and senior citizens, and $2 for children 12 and under. All three games will be Webcast live by CSTV.com.
Third-ranked Bowdoin enters its second straight NCAA semifinal with a 17-1 record. Last weekend, the Polar Bears defeated Wellesley, 5-2, and William Smith, 3-1, in the second and third rounds of the tournament. Sophomore Lindsay McNamara (17 goals, 10 assists) and senior Burgess LePage (12 goals) have led Bowdoin’s offense, while senior goalkeeper Kate Leonard has anchored a defense that has allowed just 5.5 shots per game. Leonard, a 2005 NFHCA first-team All-American, owns a career record of 43-7 and holds a career goals against average of 0.62. She has allowed just 11 goals in 18 games this season, with seven shutouts, and an .845 save percentage.
The Polar Bears are making their fifth NCAA Tournament appearance.
No. 6 Lebanon Valley comes to Geneva with a 20-2 overall mark. The Flying Dutchmen downed New England College, 4-1, and Christopher Newport, 3-0, last weekend to advance to the semifinal round. Senior Steph Marguglio has a team-high 47 points (18-11) on the season, while junior Mimi Sullivan (13-13), and sophomore Alex Wolfe (14-5) also have been outstanding offensive contributors. Senior goalie Katie Pawlewicz owns a 1.07 goals against average, a .789 save percentage, and six shutouts this year.
The Flying Dutchmen are making their 12 NCAA Tournament appearance and have reached the semifinals for the third time.
The No. 8 Bears from Ursinus enter the semifinal round after handily defeating Kenyon, 7-0, and upsetting top-ranked Cortland, 2-1 in double-overtime, improving their record to 19-3. Leading the Bear’s offense has been sophomore Kait Sutherland with 12 goals and 13 assists. Senior Jess Rogers (13-5) and sophomore Jennie Moore (13-2) also have contributed. Junior netminder Jessica Lamina has started every game in goal and boasts a 1.02 goals against average and an .800 save percentage. She has seven shutouts this season.
The Bears carry the tag of Cinderella as the team with the lowest ranking in the coaches poll and the fewest NCAA Tournament appearances (3). Ursinus, which reclassified to Division III in 2002, has made the most of its three forays in the bracket, reaching the semifinals twice.
No. 5 Messiah comes to town carrying a record of 17-4. The Falcons are led by junior Lindsay Hunter (17-3) and sophomore Nikki Bailey (14-6). First-year goalkeeper Ashley Mowery has a 1.27 goals against average and an .865 save percentage. Messiah earned a spot in the semifinals after defeating Williams, 3-2 in overtime, and second-ranked The College of New Jersey, 2-1.
The Falcons are in the midst of their 20th NCAA Tournament run. They have reached the semifinals 11 times and played for the championship five times, but are still seeking their first title.