CASTLETON, VT - Saint Joseph's (14-5, 5-1 NAC) erased an early 2-0 deficit with a pair of goals from Courtney Rague '11 (Old Orchard Beach, ME), but ultimately fell in overtime, 4-3, to the top-seeded Castleton State Spartans (14-7, 5-1) in the league title game. Rague, Julia Ostrowski '10 (Albany, NY) and Jillian Kimball '10 (Albany Township, ME) all were named to the All-Tournament Team.

Castleton State College senior forwards Carolyn Griggs and Kayla Blank each scored two goals and provided one assist to help lead the Spartans to victory over the Lady Monks, who earlier this season had defeated the Spartans 4-2 in Standish.

Blank broke free for a one-on-one opportunity with Saint Joseph's goalie, Meaghan Johnson ‘12 (Portland, ME/Cheverus) just 1:30 into the overtime period. After Johnson turned away two shots, Blank made good on the third attempt, propelling top-seed, Castleton to its first-ever NAC Championship and berth in the NCAA Division III National Tournament.

Saint Joseph's will learn early next week whether a second-consecutive ECAC Championship Tournament berth will be added to the docket.

Blank broke a scoreless tie 8:50 into the contest with her 21st goal of the season off a Griggs assist. Griggs blasted a shot that was headed wide of the goal and Blank was able to redirect it inside the nearside post, just past the sprawling Johnson. Saint Joseph's had an opportunity to tie the score when Alyssa Dunn ‘11 (Standish, ME) was awarded a penalty stroke with 7:04 remaining in the half. Castleton goalie Trisha Clark was able to make the save high to her blocker side to preserve the one goal lead. Griggs made it 2-0 less than one minute later, as she corralled a rebound and sent home her 21st of the season.

The Lady Monks cut the lead in half just 38 seconds later as Rague scored the first of her two goals off a Kayla Nowell ‘11 (Bridgton, ME) assist. Nowell played a perfect cross into the circle that Rague redirected past Clark to make it 2-1 entering intermission.

Griggs opened the Spartan scoring in the second half, one-timing her second goal of the contest inside the nearside post. Molly Fraher played the ball directly off a Kayla Blank penalty corner onto Griggs's stick for the rare double-assist.

St. Joe's did not go away however, rallying to score two unanswered goals and force overtime. Rague netted her second of the contest with 12:55 remaining to make it 3-2. Sarah Bartell ‘12 (Exeter, NH) passed the ball directly into the center of the circle and Rague was able to beat Clark.

Julia Ostrowski scored the Lady Monks' equalizer with 1:12 remaining in regulation off a tremendous second effort. Clark turned away a pair of Ostrowski shots, only to see the visitors be awarded a penalty corner. After taking the penalty corner, Ostrowski repositioned and rifled a shot that Clark once again turned back. The junior forward was then able to gather the rebound and send the shot past Clark for the equalizer.

Griggs scored four goals in the NAC tourney, including the game winner versus Husson in the semifinal round, to go along with two assists to garner Tournament Most Valuable Player honors.

Clark stopped 12 shots, including eight in the second half to earn the win and a spot on the All-Tournament team as Castleton improves to 14-7 overall. Johnson ended the contest with 10 saves of her own in the loss.

2008 North Atlantic Conference Field Hockey All-Tournament Team

Husson
Courtney Allen
Kelsey Bushover

University of Maine-Farmington
Erika Lucas
Bethany Marshall

St. Joseph's College (Me.)
Jillian Kimball
Julia Ostrowski
Courtney Rague

Castleton State College
Kayla Blank
Trisha Clark
Megan Konowich
Brooke Towslee
Carolyn Griggs - Most Valuable Player

Field Hockey Game Summary (Final)
2008 St. Joseph's College Field Hockey
#3 St. Joseph's (Me.) vs #1 Castleton State (Nov 08, 2008 at Castleton, VT)

St. Joseph's (Me.) (14-5) vs. Castleton State (14-7)
Date: Nov 08, 2008 Attendance: 330
Weather:

Goals by period 1 2 OT Tot
----------------------------------
St. Joseph's (Me.).. 1 2 0 - 3
Castleton State..... 2 1 1 - 4

SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 8:50 CSC Kayla Blank (21) (Carolyn Griggs) - shot wide deflected in
2. 28:17 CSC Carolyn Griggs (21) (unassisted) - rebound off blocked shot to right post
3. 28:55 SJMFH Courtney Rague (2) (Kayla Nowell) - cross deflected into open net
4. 49:45 CSC Carolyn Griggs (22) (Molly Fraher;Kayla Blank) - one touch off cross
5. 57:05 SJMFH Courtney Rague (3) (Sarah Bartell) - 1 on 1 with goalie 5 hole
6. 68:48 SJMFH Julia Ostrowski (16) (unassisted) - shot off rebound
7. 71:33 CSC Kayla Blank (22) (unassisted) - shot off 2 rebounds into right side

Shots: St. Joseph's (Me.) 17, Castleton State 25
Saves: St. Joseph's (Me.) 10 (Meaghan Johnson 10), Castleton State 12
(Trisha Clark 12)
2008 North Atlantic Conference Final
#1 Castleton vs #3 St. Joseph's (Me.)
Castleton Advances to 2008 NCAA Division III Tournament

THANKS IN PART TO CASTLETON STATE SPORTS INFORMATION