Field Complete for 2009 NCAA II Field Hockey Championships at Stonehill
UMass Lowell and
Shippensburg post first round wins to advance
to this weekend's action at W.B. Mason Stadium
EASTON, Mass. (November 7, 2009) - No. 2-ranked Shippensburg University and 5th-ranked University of Massachusetts Lowell have rounded out the field for this weekend's NCAA Division II Field Hockey Championships, hosted by Stonehill College, at W.B. Mason Stadium on Friday, November 13, and Sunday, November 15, with their first round wins on Saturday.
Shippensburg (20-2, 7-0 PSAC West), seeded second in the South Region, posted a 3-0 victory over third-seeded and No. 6-ranked East Stroudsburg University today in Pennsylvania. Freshman Ashley Taylor (Enola, Pa./Cumberland Valley) led the Lady Raiders with a pair of second half goals to extend the lead. The Clippers will face top-ranked, top-seeded and three-time defending NCAA Division II National Champion Bloomsburg (Pa.) University (20-1, 7-1 PSAC East) in the first semifinal at W.B. Mason Stadium on Friday at 2 p.m.
UMass Lowell (17-5, 7-3 NE-10), seeded third in the North Region, advanced with a 5-2 win at second-seeded and 4th-ranked Bentley University today in Waltham. Junior Katie Enaire (Amesbury, Mass./Amesbury) led the River Hawks with two goals and an assist in the win. The River Hawks will face top-seeded and No. 3-ranked Stonehill (17-4, 9-1 NE-10), regular season champions of the Northeast-10 Conference, in Friday's second semifinal at 5 p.m.
The winner of Friday's game will advance to Sunday's National Championship game at W.B. Mason Stadium at 1 p.m. All three games next weekend will be broadcast live via www.ncaa.com.
Admission for the games at W.B. Mason Stadium will be $7.00 for adults, $4.00 for students and senior citizens and $1.00 for children ages 2-12. All-session passes will also be available for $12.00 for adults, $6.00 for students and senior citizens and $3.00 for children 2-12. All calls regarding tickets should be made to (508) 565-1384.
Stonehill, making its third NCAA Tournament appearance, is the region's top seed for the first time. The Skyhawks also earned NCAA bids in 2005 and 2006, reaching the semifinals in 2005 before being defeated by eventual champions UMass Lowell, 2-1, in Shippensburg, Pa.
The College is hosting the field hockey championships for the first time, but it will mark the fifth time it will host an NCAA Championship event. The 2001 and 2003 women's lacrosse championships were also held on campus at Skyhawk Field, while Stonehill hosted the 2006 and 2007 Division II Indoor Track Championships at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston. W.B. Mason Stadium, opened in 2005, will be hosting its first NCAA Championship event.
2009 NCAA Division II
Field Hockey Championships
W.B. Mason Stadium - Easton, Mass.
hosted by Stonehill College
Friday, November 13
National Semifinals
#2 Shippensburg (20-2) vs. #1 Bloomsburg (20-1), 2
p.m.
#3 UMass Lowell (17-5) at #1 Stonehill (17-4), 5 p.m.
Sunday, November 15
National Championship
Semifinal winners, 1 p.m.
