The Rider University field hockey team travels to Lock Haven University for the Northeast Conference playoffs on November 3 and 4. The Broncs play the host Eagles at 11:00am on Friday with the championship game at noon on Saturday.
Northeast Conference Notes:
Lock Haven To Host NEC Field Hockey Championship
Lady Eagles Seek Championship Title for First Time in Program's History
2006 NEC Field Hockey Championship
at Lock Haven University
Lock Haven, PA
Semifinals
Friday, November 3
#1 Lock Haven vs. #4 Rider, 11:00 am
#2 Sacred Heart vs. #3 Quinnipiac, 1:30 pm
Championship Game
Saturday, November 4
12:00 pm
Somerset, NJ ? The 2006 Northeast Conference Field Hockey Tournament will take place this weekend on the campus of Lock Haven University in Lock Haven, PA. Top seeded Lock Haven will face #4 Rider at 11:00 am on Friday morning, while #2 Sacred Heart will take on #3 Quinnipiac in the second semifinal match at 1:30 pm. The championship game is slated for a noon start on Saturday, November 4.
Lock Haven (15-5, 7-1 NEC) has finally completed its transition from Division II to Division I and is eligible to compete in NEC postseason play. With a league-leading 7-1 mark in conference play, Lock Haven claims its third regular season NEC title in as many years. The Lady Eagles' offense is sparked by junior forward Blair Wynne (Arima, Trinidad & Tobago/Sangre Grande), who tallied 54 points (22 goals, 10 assists), good for second in the conference, including seven multi-goal games. Wynne, a two-time NEC Player of the Week, is joined on the offensive attack by a trio of players who also crack the conference top-10 in scoring. A pair of senior forwards have already recorded goals in double-digits: Sarah Huber (Plymouth Meeting, PA/Christopher Dock) (37 points: 14 goals, nine assists) and Mandy Daschbach (Telford, PA/Christopher Dock) (24 points: 11 goals, two assists). Midfielder Renee Kemmerer (Nineveh, NY/Afton) also ranks seventh in the league with 23 points (eight goals, seven assists). The Lady Eagles' defense will be anchored by senior Jill Wessner (Kutztown, PA/Kutztown) and freshman Alanna Lewis (Trindad & Tobego/Southeast Port-of-Spain).
Sacred Heart (14-4, 6-2 NEC) completed the regular season with a 6-2 league record, including a 4-1 win in head-to-head competition over Quinnipiac, to secure the #2 seed. Carisa Eye (Nesconset, NY/Smithtown) is one of the league's most lethal offensive weapons as she leads the nation in goals scored. The four-time NEC Athlete of the Week honoree boasts 64 points (31 goals, two assists) and is second in the nation in goals per game (1.71). Senior midfielder Colleen Carney (Yorktown Heights, NY/Lakeland) may be considered the leagues hottest player under pressue, recording a league-high seven game-winning goals. The Pioneers will also look the defensive duo of senior Sarah Yeaton (Hampton, NH/Winnacunnet) and sophomore Becky Dyson (Camp Hill, PA/East Pennsboro) to challenge the NEC's top offenses in the backfield. Sophomore goalkeeper Whitney Mills (Harrisburg, PA/Susquehanna Twp.) has recorded a stingy 1.12 goals against average in her last 11 outings.
Quinnipiac (10-8, 6-2 NEC) enters the tournament for the second consecutive year as the #3 seed. The Bobcats will look to the leadership of senior midfielder Jaime Cassesse (Guilford, CT/Guilford), who tied the program's single-season assist record at 11, to take charge on the field. Cassesse is supported by a pair of junior forwards up front, both of whom have received one NEC Athlete of the Week nod each. Jennifer Kinchla (North Falmouth, MA/Falmouth) was tabbed on October 9 and just two weeks later Ann Marie Mangano (Southampton, NY/Southampton) earned the honor. In the backfield, Quinnipiac showcases one of the most-feared goalkeepers in the league in rookie Jenna Grossman (Flanders, NJ/Mt. Olive). With the maturity of a veteran, this four-time NEC Rookie of the Week maintains a .771 save percentage, a 1.64 goals against average and six shutouts. The Bobcats defensive line is spearheaded by senior Megan DeCesaris (Shavertown, PA/Lake-Lehman).
Rider (12-6, 5-3 NEC), a model of consistency in recent years, qualifies the NEC Tournament for the seventh time in eight seasons. Under the direction of head coach Lori Hussong, the Broncs won the Tournament in 2001, 2003 and 2005, and have claimed regular season titles in 2002, 2004 and 2006. Opposing offenses must get by senior goalkeeper Krysta Bearish (Coopersburg, PA/Southern Lehigh) who is in the midst of a record breaking senior campaign. Bearish enters the tournament with five shutouts on the year, and a career mark of 58 wins, the best in program history. She ranks third in the league with a 1.63 goals against average. Sophomore forward Tricia Crotty (Lewistown, PA/Indian Valley) and Heather Connelly (Andover, NJ/Newton) are also among the NEC's leaders in scoring. Crotty, a the 2005 NEC Rookie of the Year, has tallied 24 points (11 goals, two assists) on the season, while Connelly has added 17 points (six goals, five assists) for the Broncs. Stephanie Walker (Lyman, ME/Massabesic) is the team leader and is tied for second in the NEC in game-winning goals (four).
In head-to-head competition this season, Lock Haven beat Rider, 2-1, on October 29 in Pennsylvania. Earlier in the season, Sacred Heart defeated Quinnipiac at home, 4-1 on September 29.
For complete NEC Tournament results and statistics from this weekend's field hockey action, including live broadsting and game stats, log on to the NEC's website at www.northeastconference.org.
