Story Created:
May 11, 2008 at 12:02 AM EDT
Story Updated:
May 11, 2008 at 6:42 PM EDT
CLINTON, N.Y. -- Jen McGowan '08 scored two goals, including the eventual game-winner, as nationally ranked No. 4 Hamilton College edged Middlebury College, 9-7, in an NCAA Division III women's lacrosse championships quarterfinal at Campus Road Athletic Field on May 11. Hilary Saverin '10 and Kate Marek '09 each scored twice for Hamilton (19-1 overall), which advances to the NCAA tournament semifinals for the first time in program history. It's also the first NCAA final four appearance for any sport at Hamilton.
Kaillie Briscoe '09 scored one goal and assisted on another, and Nicole Tetreault '08 finished with two assists. McGowan and Liz Benjamin '09 each scooped up three ground balls. Kate Fowler '10 made six of her eight saves in the first half.
Both Mimi Schatz '08 and Dana Heritage '10 scored three goals for nationally ranked No. 7 Middlebury (12-5 overall). The Panthers had advanced to the national semifinals in each of the past 14 seasons since 1994. Schatz added an assist and two draw controls, while Katherine Entwisle '08 scored one goal and assisted on another. Reid Berrien '08 posted game-highs of four ground balls and four caused turnovers. Blair Bowie '09 made seven saves.
The game was tied, 6-6, after Schatz scored an unassisted goal with 21 minutes, 22 seconds remaining in the second half. The Continentals responded with three unanswered goals to take the lead for good. Saverin finished off a pass from Briscoe with 21:22 left. McGowan followed with a free-position goal with 12:30 remaining, and Briscoe provided insurance when she put home Tetreault's assist with 9:34 to play.
Schatz's free-position goal with 4:27 left put pressure on Hamilton, but the Continentals tightened up on defense the rest of the way to protect the two-goal lead.
Hamilton scored back-to-back goals to start the game. Liz Rave '10 scored on an assist from Tetreault just 42 seconds into the first half. McGowan scored unassisted only 31 seconds later. The Panthers answered with three straight goals by Heritage, two on free-position shots and one unassisted, to make the score 3-2. Hamilton scored three straight goals for a 5-3 lead at the break. Marek had two of the goals, and Sarah Bray '11 added her 33rd this season.
Schatz and Entwisle teamed up to score the first two goals of the second half. Schatz converted an Entwisle assist just 47 seconds in, followed by an Entwisle-from-Schatz goal with 26:06 left, and the game was tied. Saverin gave Hamilton a one-goal lead with 24:46 to play before Schatz tied the score again.
Tetreault moved into sole possession of fifth place in program history with 178 career points. Briscoe extended her single-season points record set earlier this year by recording her 100th and 101st points this season. Head coach Patty Kloidt earned her 100th career win. Kloidt has coached six years at Hamilton and four years at Division I Le Moyne College.
The Continentals have won 22 in a row at home and 17 straight overall. They play Salisbury University at Donald J. Kerr Stadium in Salem, Va., on May 17 at 11:30 a.m. for the right to play for the Division III national championship. The other semifinal is between Franklin & Marshall College and The College of New Jersey at 2:30 p.m. The national title game is on May 18 at noon.
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