The higher seeds held serve in the America East Championship quarterfinals on Thursday as University of Maine and Stony Brook University each posted victories to advance to Sunday's semifinals. The third-seeded Black Bears downed No. 6 New Hampshire 2-1 in overtime at Alumni Field, while the fourth-seeded Seawolves ousted No. 5 University at Albany, 2-0, on a pair of second-half goals at LaValle Stadium.
Maine's Laura Martel, the America East Striker of the Year, scored 1:46 into overtime to setup a meeting with No. 2 Binghamton on Sunday in Vestal. After a first-half goal by the Black Bears' Kelsey Wilson, the Wildcats' Shaunna Kaplan, a second-team all-conference forward, sent the game to overtime on a goal with just 7:59 left in regulation. But Martel finished a cross from Carolyne Nellis for her league-leading 13th goal of the season.
Stony Brook got goals from freshmen Meghan Gilley and Sa'sha Kershaw to setup a rematch of last year's championship game with top-seeded Boston University at Nickerson Field. Gilley scored off a pass from Sarah Dwyer 22:10 into the second half and Kershaw added an insurance tally on a penalty kick with 10:04 remaining to seal the outcome. Senior goalkeeper Marisa Viola, a second-team All-America East selection, made four saves to record her sixth shutout of the season
Follow the entire America East Women's Soccer Championship at Championship Central on AmericaEast.com.
2009 America East Women's Soccer Championship
Thursday, October 29 -- Quarterfinals
Game 1: at No. 3 Maine 2, No. 6 New Hampshire 1 (OT) BOX SCORE
Game 2: at No. 4 Stony Brook 2, No. 5 Albany 0 BOX SCORE
Sunday, November 1 -- Semifinals
Game 3: Maine at No. 2 Binghamton, 1 p.m. LIVE STATS
Game 4: Stony Brook at No. 1 Boston University, 1 p.m. LIVE STATS
Saturday/Sunday, November 7/8 -- Final
Game 5: Game 3 Winner vs. Game 4 Winner, TBA