Nov. 14, 2009

Game Notes

Stonehill Athletics: NCAA Field Hockey Championship Central

Live Stats: #5 UMass Lowell vs. #1 Bloomsburg

Live Video: Sunday at 1:00 p.m. via NCAA.com

UMass Lowell is hoping, for the second time this week, that the third time is the charm. The #5 overall seeded River Hawks, who had lost twice to North Region top-seeded Stonehill College during the regular season, found the spark they needed to down the Skyhawks when it mattered most: in the NCAA Semifinal game. Now, UMass Lowell will meet #1 overall seeded Bloomsburg University in the title match for the third consecutive year, and look to take down the national powerhouse for its first NCAA Championship since 2005.

The game will be played at Stonehill’s W.B. Mason Stadium on the campus of Stonehill College, in Easton, MA, and is set for 1:00 p.m.

The River Hawks are coming off a nail-biter victory over Stonehill on Friday evening. They overcame a 1-0 deficit in the first, as senior forward Jaci Moulton (Baldwinville, MA) knotted the game at one and junior Sammy Macy (Tewksbury, MA) tallied the game-winner with less than two minutes left on the clock. Goalkeeper Amy Carbon (Bellingham, MA) made five saves and only allowed one goal in the 2-1 victory.

Bloomsburg earned a solid 4-2 win over Shippensburg on Friday afternoon, behind a game-winner by Amanda Riley (Tannersville, PA). The sophomore leads the team in scoring. Senior Maggey Bloskey (Danville, PA) also tallied a goal and added an assist in the victory, while netminder Caitlin Koczynki (Yardley, PA) stopped eight shots on the afternoon.

This National Championship game is the River Hawks’ fifth appearance and third consecutive showing. No stranger to success, Bloomsburg has won six of the last seven National Titles, including the last three in a row. UMass Lowell won its first and only program Championship in 2005, while Bloomsburg boasts 15 in program history.

Currently, UMass Lowell sits at 18-5 on the year, while the Huskies have earned a 21-1 mark during the 2009 campaign.

The River Hawks are led by Macy’s 24 goals and 55 points on the year, while fellow forward Katie Enaire (Amesbury, MA) has tallied 22 goals and notched 51 points this season. UMass Lowell’s defensive corps is led by senior co-captain Laura Sullivan (Norwood, MA) and Ashley Smith (Killingworth, CT). The River Hawk backline allows just 8.4 shots per game, while their offense averages 21.6 per contest.

The Huskies’ Riley leads the squad with 25 goals and eight assists for 58 points this year. Not far behind is Breanne Tobin (Perkasie, PA) and Bloskey, with 40 points apiece. Bloomsburg has tallied 105 goals on the year, while only allowing 17.

Admission for the game at W.B. Mason Stadium will be $7.00 for adults, $4.00 for students and senior citizens and $1.00 for children ages 2-12. All calls regarding tickets should be made to (508) 565-1384. For those that can’t make it to the game, it can be streamed live via www.ncaa.com or followed via Gametracker.