FARMINGTON, ME - Senior captain Gina Gaetani (Auburn, ME) provided #3 seed Saint Joseph's (14-4, 5-2 NAC) with the only offense they would need, a goal at the 4:09 mark, to defeat #2 Maine-Farmington (8-8, 5-1 NAC) in a conference semifinal on Saturday afternoon.

The Lady Monks (14-4) advance to take on top-seeded Castleton State College (13-7) in the NAC title game in Castleton, VT next Saturday (time TBA). The Beavers (8-8) will miss the NAC final for the first time since the conference began in 2003. Saint Joseph's handed Castleton their only conference loss of the season with a 4-2 triumph over the regular season champs in Standish on October 5th.


Gaetani's score came off an intercepted clear of a cross at 4:09. The senior captain watched the pass onto her stick and popped it in the goal for the game-winner It was the lone shot of the first half for either team.

The Beavers upped their intensity in the second half, including a span of eight corners over five minutes of play, but to no avail. Despite a 12-5 advantage in corners -- all 12 in the second frame, Farmington managed only four shots in the contest.

For Saint Joseph's, Meaghan Johnson '12 (Portland, ME/Cheverus) collected two saves in registering the shutout victory.

UMF keeper Kaeleigh Barker (Chichester, NH) stopped five shots in the loss, including a sprawling dive to snub Julia Ostrowski '10 (Albany, NY) in the second half to keep the game within one score.

Goals by period 1 2 Tot
-------------------------------
St. Joseph's (ME)... 1 0 - 1
Farmington.......... 0 0 - 0

SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 4:09 SJMFH Gina Gaetani (unassisted) - off clear attempts

Shots: St. Joseph's (ME) 7, Farmington 4
Saves: St. Joseph's (ME) 2 (Meaghan Johnson 2), Farmington 5 (Kaeleigh
Barker 5)
Penalty corners: St. Joseph's (ME) 5, Farmington 12
North Atlantic Conference field hockey semifinal

COURTESY OF UMF SPORTS INFORMATION