STANDISH, ME – Husson University earned the program's second consecutive North Atlantic Conference Field Hockey Championship with a 2-1 victory over top-seeded Saint Joseph's College at Lakeside Field on Saturday afternoon.
The second-seeded Eagles opened the scoring early with a Skye Ellis '11 (Belfast, ME) marker in the seventh minute. Monks' senior Kayla Nowell (Bridgton, ME) tied the game with her 13th goal of the season nearly 40 minutes later, but Courtney Allen '11 (Gardiner, ME) punched home what turned out to be the game-winner for Husson at the 57:18 mark following a penalty corner attempt.
With the conference crown in tow, the Eagles (10-5, 6-1 NAC) collect an automatic qualifier, awarded to the NAC Champion, into the NCAA DIII Field Hockey Tournament for the second year in a row. Husson will learn of their national tourney opponent on Monday.
With the setback, the 2010 campaign comes to a close for the Monks (13-6, 7-0 NAC).
The Eagles poured on the offensive pressure early and capitalized on the effort with the Ellis tally at the 6:59 mark. SJC keeper Meaghan Johnson '12 (Portland, ME/Cheverus) made four saves in the first five minutes, including a point-blank stop on an attempt by Lorri Hiltz '12 (Norridgewock, ME) 4:47 into play, but was unable to corral Ellis' blast which was set up by a great pass from Sabrina Vaillancourt '14 (Newport, ME).
Game-play evened out a bit after the Eagles' opening goal, but the 1-0 edge stood as the match reached intermission. Husson held a 9-3 advantage in shots and both teams were awarded four penalty corners in the first half.
The second stanza began with some fast-paced play, as both teams notched scoring chances in the opening minutes of the latter half. Johnson and her counterpart, Eagles netminder Kristen Capen '13 (Leeds, ME), both denied scoring chances in the first six minutes of second-half play.
The Monks finally found the back of the cage on a beautifully executed corner play. Renee Leach '12 (Springvale, ME) pushed the ball to Courtney Rague '11 (Old Orchard Beach, ME), who quickly delivered a pass to Nowell. The senior forward proceeded to complete the tic-tac-toe play with a blast to the bottom right corner, knotting the title contest at one apiece with 24:23 remaining.
The deadlock lasted until the Eagles tallied the eventual winner, scored after a corner and ensuing skirmish in front of the SJC crease, just over 10 minutes later. Allen, who put the ball in play on the corner attempt, received a short pass from classmate Jillian Morin (Manchester, ME) in the middle of the scrum and pushed the ball into the bottom right corner to put the Eagles ahead for good, 2-1.
Johnson recorded 11 saves for Saint Joseph's and Capen had five saves for Husson. The Eagles held a 16-9 advantage in shots and both clubs had eight penalty corners in the NAC title bout.
The defeat signals the end of collegiate field hockey for the Monks' three seniors: Nowell, Rague and Alyssa Dunn (Standish, ME). The group of four-year starters helped lead the SJC Field Hockey program to one of its most successful four-year windows. The Royal Blue notched a 56-23 (.709) record over the past four seasons.
Husson senior defender Helen Berry (Belfast, ME) was chosen as the NAC Tournament Most Valuable Player, while teammates Caroline Bochtler '11 (Turner, ME), Morin, Vaillancourt and Capen garnered All-Tournament honors.
Dunn, Nowell and Rague collected All-Tournament honors for the Monks. Emma Deans and Hattie Laliberte from Maine-Farmington and Courtney Nolan and Siobhan Whittemore from Castleton were also named to the All-Tournament Team.