Durham, N.H.- The second-seeded University at Albany Great Danes played catch-up for much of the game, but came out on top, 3-2, in overtime over top-seeded University of New Hampshire in the 2010 America East Field Hockey Championship title game on Saturday evening at Memorial Field. It was the Great Danes' second conference championship in the last three seasons.
Albany (15-5 record) will now represent the America East Conference in an NCAA play-in game on Tuesday, November 9 at 1 p.m. The Great Danes will host Rider, the Northeast Conference Champion, with the winner earning a berth to the NCAA Championship field to be announced later Tuesday night at 8 p.m.
Nina Walters scored a goal and an assist, and all-rookie pick Daphne Voormolen notched the game-winning goal 8:03 into the first overtime period for the Great Danes. The 2010 Goalkeeper of the Year Kristi Troch helped Albany win the championship with three crucial second-half saves.
UNH (14-7) got on the board quickly to begin the game when all-rookie selection Hannah Richard scored her first career goal in just the third minute of the game. The assist went to the Wildcats' lone senior, Kara Connolly. Albany tried to get on the board, peppering UNH goalie Katherine Nagengast with seven shots in the first half. Great Dane junior Christina Patrick notched her second goal in as many games to tie the score at 1-1 with time winding down in the first half. Patrick redirected Walter's shot off an indirect corner at 32:15. The game went into the intermission tied at one apiece.
The Wildcats started the second half nearly as quickly as it did the first period when first-team all-conference member Kyle Lyons converted a penalty stroke in the 41st minute to give UNH another one-goal lead, 2-1. The penalty stroke would be the only shot to get past Troch during the tournament.
Albany, who finished the game with a 14-7 advantage in shots, spent the rest of the second period pressuring the Wildcats' defense trying to score the equalizer. With about nine minutes left in the game, the Great Danes came just inches away from the tying goal. With her back turned to the goal, Patrick collected a shot from the right wing at the top of the circle, maneuvered to her right, and then blasted a reverse shot towards the goal. The shot hit the top post and ricocheted down and away from the goal line to leave the Great Danes still down a goal with time ticking away.
With under three minutes left in regulation, Walters tipped in a shot by Suzy Clephane, a second-team All-America East back, off another indirect penalty corner. In the extra session, Voormolen ended the game as she put a shot past a diving UNH goaltender Katherine Nagengast. Senior captain Ashlyn Bach earned the assist on the gamewinner.
Corrine McConville, the 2010 America East Rookie of the Year, also won the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament. Teammates Patrick, Troch and Taylor Luke joined her on the All-Tournament Team. Rounding out the all-championship squad is Whitney Frates, Haley Rausch and Lyons from UNH, Allie Dolce and Jacinda McCleod from Boston U. and Stephanie Gardiner and Mallory Anderson from University of Maine.
2010 America East Field Hockey Championship
All games at Memorial Field, Durham, N.H. - Hosted by University of New Hampshire
Friday, November 5 - Semifinals
#1 New Hampshire3, #4 Maine 2 l Boxscore l
#2 Albany 2, #3 Boston U. 1 l Boxscore l
Saturday, November 6 - Final
Albany 3, UNH 2 (OT) l Boxscore l