STANDISH, ME – The SJC Field Hockey team will host Castleton State College in a North Atlantic Conference Semifinal on Wednesday at 2:00 PM.
Fourth-seeded Castleton trounced #5 Thomas College 8-0 in a NAC Quarterfinal in Vermont on Saturday to advance to the semifinal round. The Monks (12-5, 7-0 NAC) defeated the Spartans (12-6, 4-3 NAC), 3-2, at Lakeside Field on October 3rd.
The other quarterfinal matchup featured #3University of Maine-Farmington and #6 Simmons College, with the Beavers ousting the Sharks by a 6-1 margin.
With the win, UMF will take on #2 Husson University – the defending NAC Champion – in a rematch of the 2009 championship game on Wednesday.
SAINT JOSEPH'S COLLEGE:
St. Joe's, led by sixth-year Head Coach Rupert Lewis (62-45, .579), head into the tourney having won six of the last eight games. The Monks lead the conference in both goals against average (1.35) and fewest goals allowed (23).
Courtney Rague '11 (Old Orchard Beach, ME) is the Monks' leading scorer with 13 goals and 10 assists for 36 total points and classmate Kayla Nowell (Bridgton, ME) is close behind with 28 points (11 G, 6 A). Junior tri-captain Sarah Bartell (Exeter, NH) has contributed with seven goals and Melanie Allen'13 (Jackson, NH) has five goals and 12 total points. Rookie midfielder Rachelle Messuri (Atkinson, NH) leads the freshman class with three goals and seven points this fall.
The Monks are anchored defensively by a pair of captains: senior defender Alyssa Dunn (Standish, ME) and goalkeeper Meaghan Johnson (Portland, ME/Cheverus). Dunn, a four-year starter, is tied for the team-lead in defensive saves (4) with backline partner Brittany Locke'13 (Waterville, ME) and is the team's headiest player. Johnson leads the NAC in GAA (1.27) and save percentage (.839) and has solidified her place among the program's elite netminders with an outstanding 2010 campaign.
As of October 24th, Saint Joseph's ranked ninth in NCAA DIII Field Hockey with a .841 team save percentage. Johnson also ranked ninth individually with a .839 save percentage through games played on that date.
CASTLETON STATE COLLEGE:
Castleton Head Coach Tammy Landon (65-65, .500), now in her seventh season with the Spartans, has guided her squad to victory in four of the last five contests. Castleton leads the league in goals (68) and goals per game (4.0).
Four Spartans have tallied at least 25 points this season with senior midfielder Sarah Flore (Springfield, VT) leading the team offensively (14 G, 6 A, 34 PTS). Kealy Chipman '13 (Bellows Falls, VT) (13 G, 5 A, 31 PTS), Courtney Nolan '11 (Spring Lake Heights, NJ) (9 G, 12 A, 30 PTS) and Rachel Preusser '14 (Craryville, NY) (12 G, 1 A, 25 PTS) round out the Spartans' scoring leaders.
As of October 24th, Castleton State ranked 15th in NCAA DIII Field Hockey with 3.75 goals per game.
Senior netminder Siobhan Whittemore (Springfield, VT) sports a 2.22 goals against average with a .785 save percentage in 15 starts this season. Senior midfielder Samantha Funk (Cornwall, VT) ranks as the Spartans' leader in defensive saves (4).
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING:
St. Joe's and Castleton have both won four games in the history of the series, with all four of the Monks' wins coming in the last five matchups. The Spartans last defeated the Royal Blue on November 8th, 2008 in that season's NAC Championship by a 4-3 score in overtime.
