ALBANY, N.Y.-- The 2008 America East Field Hockey Championship got underway Friday at Albany's Alumni Turf Field as University at Albany and University of New Hampshire advanced through the semifinal round and into Sunday's title game. The top-seeded Great Danes defeated three-time defending champion Boston University, 1-0, in the first semi, while the No. 2 Wildcats overcame No. 3 University of Maine's persistence to win, 3-2 in overtime.
It will be the second straight year Albany has played in the Championship Final. The Great Danes, who fell to the Terriers in last year's title game, have never won the America East Championship. The Wildcats last appeared in the final back in 2000, and won their only America East Championship in 1998, 4-3 over Northeastern in overtime.
Albany scored the only goal it would need in the first half off of a penalty corner. In the eighth minute, Jess Lindsey inserted the ball for Defensive Player of the Year Michele Polizois to knock into the net. It was Lindsey's 13th assist on the season and Polizois' 14th goal, both league-leading. It was one of three first-half penalty corners for the Great Danes, and four overall in the game.
The Terriers were awarded eight corners in the game, but were not able to capitalize on any of them. Boston U.'s Sheena Berry took both of the Terriers' two shots on goal. Goalkeeper of the Year Kim Kastuk saved four shots, while her counterpart, Ashley Ross finished with two saves.
In the second game, Maine applied pressure early, putting four shots on goal, but about seven minutes into the game, New Hampshire struck first. The Wildcats' Kyle Lyons shot a well-placed penalty stroke over Maine goalkeeper Brittany Fleck's right shoulder for a 1-0 lead that stood for the rest of the first half.
Maine and New Hampshire traded goals by Rookie of the Year Kelly Newton and First-Team All-Conference junior Meg Shea in the 47th and 53rd minutes, before the Black Bears knotted the score at 2-2 at 58:55, eventually sending the game into the extra session. Almost four minutes into overtime, Maine was issued a yellow card, leaving them a man-down for five minutes. The Wildcats, not needing the full five minutes to take advantage, scored the gamewinner 1:09 later. Cally Cooke pushed the ball into the circle from straight out where Shea was waiting to pound the ball into the right-side of the cage.
New Hampshire goalkeeper Jenna Lehman finished the game with 11 saves.
The Great Danes and the Wildcats played in the regular season finale exactly a week ago from Sunday, a game which Albany won, 3-1. While the top seed was on the line in last week's game, an automatic berth into the NCAA Championship will be awarded to this Sunday's winner.
2008 America East Field Hockey Championship
Friday, November 7 - semifinals
No. 1 Albany 1, No. 4 Boston University 0
No. 2 New Hampshire 3, No. 3 Maine 2 (ot)
Sunday, November 9 - final
Albany vs. New Hampshire, 1 p.m.