ALBANY, N.Y.-- The Boston University field hockey program captured its eighth America East Championship Saturday evening with a 4-1 triumph over the top-seeded Albany Great Danes. The Terriers, who tied a tournament record with nine goals in two games, became the first two seed to win the tournament title since 2004.
Terrier senior back Haley Robinson earned the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, while fellow back Rookie of the Year Jacinda McLeod also earned all-tournament status. Boston U.'s Nikki Lloyd and Allie Dolce rounded out the Terriers' all-tournament picks.
Sophomore forward Kali Cardoza started the scoring for Boston U. just 2:21 into the title tilt after receiving a beautiful cross from freshman Nicole van Oosterom. Cardoza one-timed it in past Albany goalkeeper Christine Hoffman. The next goal, with just 59 seconds left in the first frame, was almost identical with roles reversed. Cardoza slipped a cross in from the right corner into the mouth of the cage, which van Oosterom knocked into the net.
After Boston U. went into the half with a 2-0 lead, the Terriers came back firing again. van Oosterom, who finished the tournament with seven points, notched an unassisted tally in the 40th minute. After dribbling it into the circle, the new Albany netminder, Kristi Troch, came out too far to challenge, leaving van Oosterom an open net to hammer the ball into for the third goal.
McLeod rounded out the Boston U. scoring after converting a penalty stroke in the 56th minute. With under five minutes remaining, Albany senior forward Nicole Savage broke the shutout with an unassisted reverse stick shot into the goal.
Shots were even at 11 apiece, while the Great Danes out-cornered the Terriers, 9-0. Albany goalkeepers combined for five saves and Boston U. goalie Amanda Smith finished the game with two stops.
The Terriers will host Stanford, the NorPac Tournament Champion, in an NCAA Play-In game on Tuesday, before the NCAA Championship selections will be announced later that night at 8 p.m. Stay tuned to www.AmericaEast.com for NCAA details.
2009 America East Field Hockey Championship
at Albany's Alumni Turf Field
Semifinals:
#1 Albany 3, #4 New Hampshire 0
#2 Boston U. 5, #3 Maine 2
Final:
Boston U. 4, Albany 1
All-Championship Team
Haley Robinson, Boston University -- Most Outstanding Player
|
Allie Dolce, Boston University
|
Nikki Lloyd, Boston University
|
Jacinda McLeod, Boston University
|
Nicole Savage, Albany
|
Ashlyn Bach, Albany
|
| Taylor Luke, Albany |
Courtney Veinotte, Maine
|
Mallory Pollard, Maine
|
| Meg Shea, New Hampshire |
| Kendall Deck, New Hampshire |