Nov. 16, 2008

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Bloomsburg Wins Third Straight National Championship

BLOOMSBURG --Jamie Vanartsdalen scored three goals and assisted on one other to lead the Bloomsburg University field hockey team to a 6-2 win over UMass-Lowell (UML) in the 2008 NCAA Division II Field Hockey championships. The title was the third straight for the Huskies and the sixth in the last seven years. It was also the 12th NCAA D-II title in school history and the 15th field hockey title overall.
Team

The Huskies stormed out of the gate and dominated play in the first six minutes of action. Bloomsburg got on board first just 1:20 into the contest when Vanartsdalen took a pass from Samantha Kropa and scored to make it a 1-0 game. Less than a minute later, on a penalty corner, Vanartsdalen shot was saved by the River Hawks Amy Carbon. However, Maggey Bloskey was there to get the rebound and score to make it 2-0. The opening flurry continued three minutes later when Vanartsdalen scored on a rebound of a shot by Bloskey putting the Huskies in control.

The River Hawks, though, kept their composure and got on the board at the 8:49 mark when Missy Seeley scored from a Molly Clay assist off a penalty corner, the second of two consecutive corners for UML.

UML and the Huskies then fought for field position much of the next 25 minutes before the River Hawks cut the deficit to 3-2 late in the first half off a penalty corner. Jaci Moulton took a centering pass from Seeley and drilled it in to the back of the cage giving the visitors new life.

However, that would be as close as the River Hawks would get in the game. To start second half play Bloomsburg's Ashley Miller redirected a shot from Vanartsdalen just 35 seconds in the period to put the Huskies up 4-2. From there the Huskies midfield and defense prevented the River Hawks from getting off any shots in the second half.
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The Huskies closed out the scoring with Vanartsdalen scoring at the 50 minute mark to make it 5-2 with Chelsea Due closing out the scoring with an assist from Kropa off a penalty corner.

Bloomsburg head coach Jan Hutchinson said the key to the game was the early scoring.

"Getting those three goals right away was a great start," said Hutchinson. "I thought we did lose our focus a little bit giving up those two scores, but at halftime we talked about going back to what got us the big lead and that was our speed and pressure."

UMass-Lowell coach Shannon Hlebichuk agreed the key to the game was the quick start for Bloomsburg.

"The first half spoke for itself, the way we bounced back with two goals to make it a game showed a lot about our team's character," said the UML coach. "We knew we were going to see a similar team from last year. We have some young players who are getting some minutes and we only start a couple of seniors, but they were tough. Obviously seeing what Bloomsburg did throughout the season you knew they could put the ball in then net with players like Jamie(Vanartsdalen) and Samantha (Kropa)."

Senior Samantha Kropa said after the first couple of goals the team lost focus.

"We got those goals so quickly and it felt great, but we did lose our focus for a little bit," said Kropa. "When we scored that goal 35 seconds into the second half that helped us regain our focus. We had to make adjustments inn what we wanted to do and how we wanted to do it. Vanartsdalen, who finished the year with 40 goals and 22 assists, was happy to win a title on the team's own field.

"I think it was great that all of our fans were able to see us," said Vanartsdalen. "We had a lot of support for our fans today. They can't always follow us to other locations so to win one at home was a great feeling."

Named to the All-Tourney team were Vanartsdalen, Kropa, Due and Whitney Miller from Bloomsburg; Seeley, Ashley Smith and Michelle Harrington from UML; Alyssa Sliney and Courtney Bartlett from Bentley and Kim Davies and Amanda Howser from Shippensburg.

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Pair From Macy Send Lowell To Win Over Bentley

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

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The River Hawks will look to win their first national title since 2005, when they knocked off the Huskies in the final, and by doing so, stop Bloomsburg from winning its third straight championship.

More to follow...

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Bloskey Sends Huskies To Seventh Straight National Championship Game

Courtesy of Bloomsburg

BLOOMSBURG, PA-- Maggey Bloskey (Danville, Pa/Danville) scored three goals, including the game-winner in overtime, to lead the Bloomsburg University field hockey team to a 3-2 victory over Shippensburg University in the semi-finals of the 2008 NCAA Division II field hockey tournament.

Bloomsburg, 22-1, will face the winner of the semi-final game between UMass-Lowell and Bentley on Sunday at 1 p.m. in the championship game, where the Huskies will attempt to win their third consecutive NCAA championship.

"I thought it was a great game," said Bloomsburg head coach Jan Hutchinson following the game. "It was what championship play is all about. Ship played extremely well, as they have every time we have played them. I was just pleased that when they (Shippensburg) took the lead in the second, we didn't lose our focus and were able to stay in the game and take it into overtime."

Bloomsburg took a 1-0 lead at the 8:23 mark of the first period when Bloskey scored off of a pass from Chelsea Due (Pen Argyl, Pa./Pen Argyl)  to give the Huskies a 1-0 advantage. Shippensburg would respond ten minutes later when Kim Davies scored off of a pass from Kristina Taylor to tie the game at one.

It would stay deadlocked at 1-1 until 12 minutes into the second half, when Shippensburg's Dani Haas scored  off of an assist from Carolyn Swift to take a 2-1 lead.

With under ten minutes to go in the game and trailing by one, Bloomsburg's Jamie Vanartsdalen (Huntingdon Valley, Pa./Lower Moreland) found Bloskey  for her second goal of the game, tying the game at 2-2 with just over nine minutes left to play. Bloomsburg had an opportunity to score on a penalty corner with under 30 seconds remaining in regulation, but the Red Raiders held their ground and forced the overtime period.

Bloskey then scored the game winner 12 minutes and 27 seconds into the overtime on a pass from Due, lifting the Huskies back into the championship game.

"I was just there on the post and Chelsea made two great passes," said Bloskey. "I was just able to put my stick down and score. It was competitive game and I'm glad we won."

Allison Ziants (Winfield, Pa./Selinsgrove) led the way in goal for Bloomsburg, recording one save while facing six shots on goal. Bloomsburg out-shot the Red Raiders 16-6 on the game. Shippensburg was led Amanda Houser, who made four saves in goal.

"I'm really proud of this team," said Shippensburg head coach Bertie Landis. "I'm proud of the seniors and I thought we played with great purpose. We had some chances to score, but we have to put them in goal and we weren't able to do that. We've come a long way since the beginning of the season and I'm extremely proud of this team's effort."

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