UNH, Pacific Win #AEFH Quarterfinal Thrillers, Move Onto Semis
LOWELL, Mass. — New Hampshire and Pacific, the #3 seeds for the 2017 #AEFH Championship, won thrilling quarterfinals contests Friday at UMass Lowell’s Wicked Blue Turf to advance to Saturday’s semifinals.
The Wildcats, the #3 seed from the East, beat West #2 seed California, 3-2 in overtime in Friday’s opener, while Pacific, the #3 seed from the West, scored late in regulation to upend East #2 seed Maine in the nightcap, 3-2.
In the opener, East Division All-Conference choice Gianna Bensaia scored twice, including the game winner 5:12 into overtime to lift UNH to its win. The Wildcats outshot Cal 24-9 and had 15 penalty corners, but Danielle Mentink made 11 saves to keep the Bears in the game.
In the nightcap, America East Offensive Player of the Year Kriekie van Wyk gave Pacific a 3-2 lead with three minutes left in the second half off a feed from Midfielder of the Year Savannah Burns. Van Wyk had two goals and an assist. Libby Riedl scored both Maine goals.
New Hampshire will face East #1 seed Albany in the first semifinal Saturday at 12 p.m. ET while Pacific takes on West #1 seed Stanford in the second semifinal Saturday at 2:30 p.m. ET. The Great Danes and Cardinal both cruised to quarterfinal wins Thursday with Albany beating UC Davis, 5-0, and Stanford taking down UMass Lowell, 5-1.
Tomorrow’s winners will play for the 2017 America East title on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
Stay up-to-date on the tournament by visiting Championship Central for streaming and live stats links as well as box scores, highlights and recaps following each round in addition to team information, tournament history and more.
Follow @AmericaEast and @AEDigitalNet on Twitter to get the real-time championship updates. Use the #AEChamps and #AEFH hashtags to join the conversation.
2017 America East Field Hockey Championship
At UMass Lowell; Lowell, Mass.
All Times Eastern
Quarterfinals - Thursday, Nov. 2
Game 1 – #E1 Albany 5, #W4 UC Davis 0
Game 2 – #W1 Stanford 5, #E4 UMass Lowell 1
Quarterfinals – Friday, Nov. 3
Game 3 – #E3 New Hampshire 3, #W2 California 2 (OT)
Game 4 – #W3 Pacific 3, #E2 Maine 2
Semifinals – Saturday, Nov. 4
Game 5 – #E1 Albany vs. #E3 New Hampshire, 12 p.m.
Game 6 – #W1 Stanford vs. #W3 Pacific, 2:30 p.m.
Final – Sunday, Nov. 5
Game 7 – Game 5 Winner vs. Game 6 Winner, 1 p.m.
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