FARMINGTON, ME – Maine-Farmington (5-5, 5-1 NAC) edged Saint Joseph's (8-5, 4-3 NAC), 3-2, in North Atlantic Conference (NAC) field hockey action on Thursday afternoon.

UMF senior Lily Barry (Hermon, Maine) scored twice and junior Kaitlyn Bullen (New Sharon, Maine) notched the game-winner to lead the Beavers to their first win over Saint Joseph's since 2008, ending UMF's four-match losing streak to the Monks. Prior to Thursday's win, UMF's last triumph over Saint Joseph's was a 2-0 win in Farmington on October 4, 2008.

But to capture the win, Maine-Farmington had to survive an initial offensive flurry from Saint Joseph's. The Monks logged six penalty corners over the opening eight minutes, and effectively bottled up the Beavers in their own end of the field.  UMF's defense held fast, allowing just one shot by St. Joe's during that span.

The Beavers finally began to get organized offensively midway through the first half, generating three penalty corners in rapid succession. Barry finally got the Beavers on the board, beating Monks goalie Taylor Allison (Pawtucket, R.I.) with a shot from the left side off a pass from Annie Agnew (Guilford, Maine) with 16:57 remaining in the frame.

Maine-Farmington held the 1-0 lead into the intermission, but Saint Joseph's senior Elizabeth Andersen (Cumberland, Maine) netted the equalizer less than five minutes into the second half. Rachelle Messuri (Atkinson, N.H.) was credited with an assist on the play.

Barry picked up her second of the day and gave the Beavers a 2-1 lead with 23:55 left to play, scoring on a penalty corner off a feed from senior Emma Daniel (Acton, Mass.). Bullen tacked on what would prove to be the game winner just minutes later, beating Allison at close range off a pass from junior Kashley Weymouth (Pittston, Maine) with 21:36 remaining in the game.

St. Joe's junior Theresa Hendrix (Scarborough, Maine) pulled Saint Joseph's to within one of the hosts with 18:43 showing on the game clock, as the midfielder put a long shot past Beavers goalie Felisha Taylor (Chelsea, Maine) in a sequence following a penalty corner. However, the Beavers would hold the Monks shot-less over the remainder of the game to hold on for the win.

Maine-Farmington held an 8-3 advantage in shots taken, while Saint Joseph's dominated the penalty corner count, 10-6. Allison charted four saves in the Monks' cage, while Taylor was not forced to make a save on the afternoon.

With the loss, Saint Joseph's falls to 8-21 in the history of the series with Maine-Farmington. 

Farmington heads to Vermont for its next two games – NAC contests at Castleton on Saturday, Oct. 13, followed by Colby-Sawyer on Sunday, Oct. 14. Saint Joseph's is idle for the next nine days, before returning to action at home on Saturday, Oct. 20, against Castleton.

COURTESY OF UMF SPORTS INFORMATION

Saint Joseph's College, founded in 1912 by the Sisters of Mercy, celebrates its Centennial year in 2012 with a theme of "Realize the Promise" – honoring our commitment to educating well-rounded graduates who combine career focus with classic liberal arts studies. A Private, Catholic, primarily residential, coeducational liberal arts institution, Saint Joseph's welcomes students of all ages and all faiths. The campus, located 18 miles northwest of Portland and just two hours from Boston, encompasses 350 acres along the shore of beautiful Sebago Lake in Standish, Maine. Enrollment ranges between 1,000 and 1,100 students annually. Saint Joseph's offers challenging academic programs in the liberal arts and sciences, education, nursing and business fields in a value-centered environment.