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Union advances to title tilt with 13-8 win
May 1, 2004
GENEVA, N.Y.—Second-seeded Union College held third-seeded Hamilton
College to just three second-half goals to capture a 13-8 win in the Upstate
Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament semifinal this afternoon on
McCooey Field. The Dutchwomen advance to the title tilt to play top-seeded
William Smith on May 2, at noon.
Junior Kathy Dolezal (Williston Northampton/Clearwater, Fla.) opened up the game’s scoring at the 2:11 marking, putting Union up 1-0 on an unassisted goal.
Exactly two minutes later Continental first-year Suzanne Belmont (Scituate/Scituate, Mass.) evened the score, with her 13th goal of the season. Junior Danielle Levine (Choate Rosemary Hall/Litchfield, Conn.) put Hamilton ahead at the 6:49 mark off an assist from Liz Longley (Duxbury/Duxbury, Mass.).
The Dutchwomen dominated the action over the next 17 minutes, scoring four unanswered for the 5-2 advantage with six minutes left in the half.
The Continentals responded with a scoring streak of their own, tallying the half’s final three goals to make it an even 5-5 at the break.
Balanced offenses was the story in the first half as Hamilton got goals from five different players, and Union had four different scorers.
The Dutchwomen struck just 16 seconds after the opening second half draw to take a 6-5 lead. Hamilton junior Christian Trabandt (Potomac School/Arlington, Va.) tied the game for the third time of the afternoon, but that would be all the Continentals could muster as Union scored seven of the game’s final nine goals for the 13-8 victory.
Junior Molly Flanagan (Loomis Chaffee/Simsbury, Conn.) led all Dutchwomen with five points on three goals and two assists, while Dolezal contributed three scores.
Longley led the Hamilton offense with three goals and two assists for five points, while Levine pitched in a goal and an assist.
The Continentals held a slight 25-24 edge on shots, while Union won the ground balls battle 31-26.
In goal sophomore Rachel Beckman (Needham/Needham, Mass.) made eight stops for Union, while first-years Kalley Greer (Anderson Vocational Inst./Whitby, Ontario) and Hilary Gamble (Loomis Chaffee School/Potsdam, N.Y.) combined for four saves.
Union will go up against William Smith in the title tilt tomorrow at noon, on McCooey Field. The winner earns the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.