#4 W & J Advances To E8 Finals After Knocking Off #1 Utica
Utica, N.Y. (11/5/2011) - Fourth seeded Washington & Jefferson College advanced to its fifth consecutive Empire 8 Conference title game by knocking off top-seeded Utica College 4-2 in the first semi-final game of the 2011 Empire 8 Field Hockey Championships at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium Saturday morning. The Presidents netted two unanswered goals in the second half to earn the right to play either Stevens or Nazareth in Sunday’s championship game. Junior forward Jennifer Marabella led W & J with a game-high two goals, while classmate Erin Barno added one goal and one assist.
The Presidents (13-4) avenged a mid season overtime loss, 2-1, loss to the Pioneers at Gaetano Stadium on Sept. 24. Utica (11-8) was hosting the conference tournament for the first time in the program’s 11 year history after winning the conference’s regular season title.
W & J outshot the Pioneers 20-10 on the day and capitalized on opportunities in the circle when it had to, as the Presidents earned the key post season victory. The winner of Sunday’s championship game will earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
The Presidents were able to control the pace of play in the second half, outshooting the Pioneers 11-5 in the final 35 minutes, and Marabella and Barno each connected on second half goals to guide W & J to its fifth consecutive E8 semi-final victory. Marabella’s eventual game-winner came 3:34 into the second half and it was off her own rebound after a save from Utica goalie Monica Storms. Barno sealed the victory with her 12th goal of the season in the 51st minute after junior Amanda Pflumm played a ball into the circle and Barno turned and ripped the President’s fourth goal of the game.
Scoring came in bunches in the first half and it began when Marabella netted her 13th goal of the season off an assist from Barno in the 18th minute to give the Presidents an early 1-0 advantage. Marabella’s goal beat Storms in the upper right corner of the cage.
UC would not go down easy and just 52 seconds later the Pioneers responded when senior forward Mallory Mariano netted her seventh goal of the year off a penalty corner from classmate Jessica Ahearn. Mariano’s game-tying blast was from 13 yards out.
Less than three minutes later the Presidents took the lead back when Victoria Patrick ripped a one-timer off a penalty corner from senior Hannah Lott. Patrick’s fifth goal of the season was from 15 yards out.
11 minutes later the Pioneers knotted the score up at 2-2 when Ally Sanders registered her second tally of the season after two passes off the penalty corner. Ahearn started the penalty corner with a pass to senior Rebecca Corsones. Corsones guided the corner pass over to Sanders, who connected with a shot into the back of the cage from ten yards out.
Storms stopped a game-high 12 shots in net for UC, while Shelby Colyer made seven stops in net for the Presidents.
Sunday’s championship game will begin at 12 p.m. Fans who cannot make it out to the contest can catch all of the action through live streaming video at www.empire8.tv. For all the latest information concerning the 2011 Empire 8 Conference Field Hockey Championships please visit the tournament website at http://www.ucpioneers.com/sports/2011/10/31/FH_1031111541.aspx?path=fhockey.