Hofstra and Delaware Advance in CAA Field Hockey Championship

Top Two Seeds Fall in Conference Semifinals

11/06/04 5:16PM

WILLIAMSBURG, VA - History was made today at the Colonial Athletic Association Field Hockey Tournament, as No. 3 seed Delaware and No. 4 seed Hofstra upset the tournament’s top two seeds at William and Mary’s Busch Field.

In the first game of the day, Hofstra (13-7) upset 13th-ranked William and Mary (13-7), 1-0, in overtime. Sara Gonzalez (Mohegan Lake, NY) scored for the Pride with 12:45 to go in the first overtime period, knocking in a pass from Kara McEneaney (Miller Place, NY).

William and Mary outshot Hofstra, 13-10 in the game, with each team taking six penalty corners. Pride goalkeeper Jessica Cowperthwaite (Wilmington, DE) made eight saves in the game, while the Tribe’s Heather Kibbee (Leucadia, CA) stopped five shots.

In the second semifinal, No. 17 Delaware (14-6) stunned eight-time defending CAA Champion Old Dominion (13-7), 2-1 in overtime to advance to tomorrow’s championship game.

ODU struck first in the contest, with Caroline Nichols (Virginia Beach, VA) scoring on a long shot from the left side with 4:13 left in the first half. The Blue Hens quickly tied the score on a penalty corner with just 17 seconds left in the period, as Leah Geib (Schwenksville, PA) tipped in a pass from Erica LaBar (New Castle, DE). Neither side could score in the second half, but Delaware put through the game-winner with 2:58 left in the first overtime, as Lauren Carr (West Chester, PA) scored on a pass from Amanda Warrington (Lewes, DE).

The Monarchs outshot the Blue Hens, 12-8, in the contest and also had a 13-4 advantage in penalty corners. ODU goalkeeper Mary Cate Gordon (Oreland, PA) made four saves in the game, while Delaware’s Megan Allen (Virginia Beach, VA) also made four stops.

Delaware and Hofstra will meet in tomorrow’s championship game in a battle for the conference’s automatic berth into the 2004 NCAA Tournament. Hofstra has never played in the NCAA Tournament, while the Blue Hens have made just two appearances, in 1982 and 1988. The game will be played at 1:00 PM on William and Mary’s Busch Field.

William and Mary-Hofstra Box Score
Old Dominion-Delaware Box Score