STANDISH, Maine – #2 Saint Joseph's College (12-6, 5-1 GNAC) will host #3 Anna Maria College (13-6, 4-2 GNAC) in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Field Hockey Tournament Semifinal game at Deering Memorial Stadium this evening at 6:45 PM.
Tonight's winner advances to the GNAC Championship and will face the victor of the #1 Simmons College/#5 Johnson & Wales University on Saturday. The higher seeded team hosts throughout tourney play and the GNAC Champion earns an automatic berth into the 2015 NCAA DIII Field Hockey Championship, which begins on November 11th.
Why is the game at Deering Memorial Stadium?
After last season, conference legislation was passed stating that all field hockey postseason matches must be played on fields that meet NCAA standards as far as dimensions and playing surface (turf) specifications are concerned. As a result of the new rule, Saint Joseph's cannot host GNAC Tournament contests on Mercy Field, which features a grass-playing surface.
How they got here:
As one of the top two seeds in this year's tournament, Saint Joseph's earned a first-round bye.
The AMCATS advanced to the second round of the conference tourney when they defeated sixth-seeded Mount Ida College, 5-1, in a GNAC Tournament Quarterfinal last Saturday.
What have you done lately?
Saint Joseph's has not played since last Wednesday when the Monks wrapped up the regular season with an impressive 4-2 victory over Little East Conference leader Plymouth State University. Freshman Michalia Parent (Westborough, Mass.) netted a pair of goals and junior forward Kelsey Dumond (Lewiston, Maine) tallied a goal and an assist to help the Monks collect an important in-region victory.
Senior forward Amanda Celata (Dedham, Mass.) netted the eventual game-winner in the 64th minute and freshman keeper Megan Baker (Gorham, Maine) made six stops in the triumph.
Anna Maria cruised past Mount Ida College on Saturday as sophomore forward Nicole Denver (Springfield, Mass.) scored twice and senior Kayla Lapierre (Worcester, Mass.), junior Lauren Beauregard (Hubbardston, Mass.) and junior Lauren DiPillo (Canton, Mass.) netted a goal apiece in the lopsided triumph.
The AMCATS split the contest in the net, as senior Mary Kate Breen (Londonderry, N.H.) made a pair of saves in a scoreless first half and sophomore Bryanna Tobin (Deep River, Conn.) posted four stops with a goal allowed in the second stanza.
Who to watch – Saint Joseph's:
The Monks feature a well-balanced offensive attack with five players entering tonight's contest with 10 or more points on the season. Parent, a two-time GNAC Rookie of the Week honoree, leads the team with 23 points (9G, 5A) while Dumond ranks second on the squad with 22 points (10G, 2A). Senior Meghan Williams (Greenland, N.H./St. Thomas Aquinas) has 15 points (4G, 7A), Celata currently has 12 points (4G, 4A) and sophomore Bailey Cutler (Lisbon Falls, Maine) enters the postseason with 11 points (5G, 1A).
Baker ranks second in the conference in goals against average (1.05) and shutouts (5) and is currently fifth in save percentage (.758).
Who to watch – Anna Maria:
The AMCATS are the highest-scoring team in the conference with 57 goals in 19 contests and feature the reigning GNAC Offensive Player of the Year in senior midfielder Kylie Dalbec (Portland, Maine), who enters the semifinal round with 14 goals and 16 assists for 44 total points.
Lapierre ranks second on the team with 37 points (12G, 13A), Denver is third with 31 (15G, 1A) and junior Kaitlyn Moran (Leicester, Mass.) is fourth with 28 points (9G, 10A). Beauregard has contributed four goals and five helpers for a total of 13 points on the year.
Breen currently ranks second in the GNAC in save percentage (.810) and fourth in goals against average (2.41).
Recipe for success – Saint Joseph's:
Per usual, the Monks rank as one of the toughest defensive programs in the conference as St. Joe's has allowed a GNAC-low four goals in six league tilts this fall. Saint Joseph's also ranks second in the conference in goals per game versus GNAC foes (3.2) and have held conference opponents to just 14 shots on goal this fall.
Recipe for success – Anna Maria:
The AMCATS will rely on their stout offensive front tonight as they lead the conference in goals (57) and assists (48) and are currently second in the GNAC in goals per game (3.0).
Attitude reflects leadership:
Saint Joseph's Head Coach Rupert Lewis, now in his 11th season at the helm, is 126-73 (.633) in his collegiate coaching career, an impressive record that includes an incredible 50-9 (.848) regular season conference record.
AMCATS Head Coach Sharon Zenevitch, now in her 13th season at Anna Maria, owns a 234-225 (.510) career record on the sidelines.
The last time we met:
Saint Joseph's defeated Anna Maria by a 2-1 margin at home on September 26th. With the match tied, 1-1, midway through the second stanza, Parent potted the eventual game-winner off a Celata feed to provide the Monks with the crucial GNAC victory.
The Monks outshot the AMCATS by a 22-8 margin and held a 13-3 lead in penalty corners in the triumph. Baker made four saves while Breen totaled 12 stops in a losing effort for the AMCATS.
Historically speaking:
Saint Joseph's is 10-3 all-time versus Anna Maria College, but one of the AMCATS' three wins ended the Monks' 2014 season, as Anna Maria tipped the Royal Blue, 1-0, in a GNAC Tournament Semifinal on November 5th. Dalbec broke the scoreless stalemate with what proved to be the game-winner at the 53:34 mark.
The Monks held advantages in both shots (11-2) and penalty corners (19-3) in the hard-fought loss.
#GOMONKS
Follow Saint Joseph's Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram!
Saint Joseph's College is Maine's only Catholic liberal arts college, providing a supportive, personalized and career-focused education for more than 100 years. From its 474-acre campus on the shores of Sebago Lake, the College offers more than 40 undergraduate programs to a population of approximately 1,000 students. Saint Joseph's College Online provides certificates, undergraduate and advanced degrees for working adults through an online learning program. For more, visit www.sjcme.edu.
