For the second time in three years, the No. 6 seed in the
America East Championship will make a trip to the title game as Stony Brook
topped No. 2 seed Maine, 2-1, while No. 1 seed Hartford also advanced with a
2-0 win over No. 4 Vermont in semifinal action on Sunday afternoon.
With Hartford's win, the No. 1 seed has made the title game
every year since 1996. The Hawks are looking for their eighth tournament title
and first since 2006. The Seawolves have not won a conference championship and
are making their third appearance in the title game.
The teams will meet in West Hartford, Conn., for the America East title on Sunday, November 4 at 3 p.m.
Stony Brook 2, Maine
1
Box Score
Sarah Darmanin scored her first career goal with 7:15 left
in the game to give No. 6 seed Stony Brook a, 2-1, win over No. 2 seed Maine on
Sunday afternoon in Orono, Maine.
The win gives Stony Brook its third trip to the America East
title game as a program and first since 2008.
The Seawolves went down early in the contest, as Maine
scored less than a minute into the game to take a, 1-0, lead. Nikke Misener
created the opportunity, dribbling the ball along the endline and finding a
cutting Jordan Pellerin, who chipped the ball into the left-side netting for
the goal.
Stony Brook was able to draw even midway through the first
half, as Kristen Baker chipped a ball from 35-yards out that bounced in the box
and took a hop over the head of Maine keeper Megan Leibenzeder and into the net
to tie the game at one.
Stony Brook keeper Ashley Castanio was excellent all game,
and helped keep the game even near the end of the first half, stopping two
shots during a flurry following a corner kick. Castanio finished with eight
saves in the game.
Maine had chances to take the lead in the second half,
including a free kick by Lisa Bijman in the 55th minute that found the head of
America East Rookie of the Year Charlene Achille, but went just wide.
The Seawolves were able to take the lead on a counter-attack
that led to a breakaway by Darmanin, who chipped the ball over the head of
Leibenzeder for her first career goal, giving Stony Brook the 2-1 lead.
The Seawolves are the second No. 6 seed in the last three
years to advance to the title game, and are looking for their first ever
America East title.
Hartford 2, Vermont 0
Box Score
America East Striker of the Year Amelia Pereira had a goal
and an assist to lead No. 1 seed Hartford for a, 2-0, win over No. 4 Vermont in
West Hartford, Conn., on Sunday.
The win sends Hartford to its 10th America East Championship
title game and first since 2006. The Hawks have captured seven conference
tournament titles.
Pereira scored what would prove to be the game-winning goal
in the 27th minute of action, finishing a cross from Caitlin Alves into the
upper-right corner of the net. It was Pereira's conference-leading 13th goal of
the year.
The Hawks added an insurance goal early in the second half,
this time with Pereira sending a corner kick into the box that deflected off
Alves and found the head of Elise Galipo to make it, 2-0, Hawks.
Hartford would not look back from there, as Erin Quinlan
went on to record the shutout with one save.