Nov. 3, 2006

Final Stats

Lock Haven, PA - Junior Jenn Howley (North Salem, NY) scored two goals and sophomore Whitney Mills (Harrisburg, PA) made 19 saves in goal as Sacred Heart beat Quinnipiac, 4-2, in the semifinals of the Northeast Conference field hockey tournament Friday afternoon.

The Pioneers advance to the championship game Saturday where the will meet top seed and host Lock Haven, who beat Rider, 2-1 in the other semifinal.

In a back-and-forth affair, the Pioneers were out-shot 23-16, but made the most of their chances. Mills 13-save effort boke the NEC record for saves set two years ago by Fairfield's Lauren Callahan. Jenna Grossman had seven stops in the loss for Quinnipiac.

Sophomore Melissa Mazin (Putnam Valley, NY) struck first blood in the 20th minute, on an unassisted effort. However, QU got the equalizer just minutes before the half, as Jennifer Kinchla tipped a Jaime Cassesse shot.

Senior Colleen Carney (Yorktown Heights, NY) put SHU back on top early in the second. Junior Leah Stoehr (Hummelstown, PA) set Carney up on a penalty corner attempt and Carney put the ball past Grossman into the back of the cage.

The Bobcats answered right back, as Kinchla found the cage for the second time in the contest just 47 seconds after the Pioneers had taken the lead.

Howley then sealed the deal for the Pioneers with the final two goals. The first marker came on a rebound shot with just over 20 minutes to go in the contest. Then, with six minutes left, Howley broke out behind the Quinnipiac defense and beat Grossman for an insurance goal.

Sacred Heart will meet Lock Haven Saturday at 12:00 noon at Smith Field. for the NEC championship and a bid to the NCAA Tournament.