BOSTON ? Top-seeded Boston University scored the first two goals of overtime to knock off third-seeded New Hampshire, 9-8, in extra time to win the 2008 America East Women’s Lacrosse Championship at the Terriers’ Nickerson Field on Sunday, April 27.
Boston U. will face Sacred Heart, the champion of the Northeast Conference, in an NCAA play-in game on Saturday, May 3 at the Terriers’ home field.
New Hampshire (13-5) jumped out to a 3-1 lead and held the high-scoring Terriers to just one goal over the first 27:20 of the contest. Shaunna Kaplan tallied all three of her points during that stretch with a goal and two assists.
Boston University (16-2) scored twice before the break and trailed 4-3 at halftime. The Terriers scored four of the first five goals of the second period to take a 7-5 advantage with 23:18 to go. Lauren Morton and Traci Landy, who both had three goals in the game, each netted a pair of those scores.
The Wilcats’ Sarah Von Bargen scored the next two goals, including the game-tying tally with 3:29 remaining. The Terriers appeared to take the lead with just 10 seconds left, but Landy’s goal was disallowed due to an illegal stick.
Landy got her goal with 1:40 left in the first overtime period and America East Player of the Year Sarah Dalton gave her team a two-goal cushion with just three seconds left in the first overtime.
UNH cut the deficit to on an unassisted goal by Ashley Crook with 1:21 remaining in the second overtime period. The Wildcats won the ensuing draw control, but Michaela Hardy’s shot was turned away by Terrier goalkeeper Rachel Klein with 33 seconds remaining to secure the win.
Von Bargen scored three times to lead the Wildcats. Dalton tallied three goals and three assists to pace to the Terriers, who have won four straight conference titles and six of the last seven overall.
Kelly Munroe was named the championship’s Most Outstanding Player to highlight the 11-member All-Championship Team.
All-Championship Team
Jodi Battaglia, Albany; Nikki Branchini, Albany; Megan MacDonald, Vermont; Kristen Miller, Vermont; Shaunna Kaplan, New Hampshire; Ashley Milley, New Hampshire; Sarah Von Bargen, New Hampshire; Sarah Dalton, Boston U.; Rachel Klein, Boston U.; Traci Landy, Boston U.; Kelly Munroe, Boston U.
Most Outstanding Player
Kelly Munroe, Boston U.