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The Spectator
Lacrosse Wins Third Straight Liberty League Title
By Melissa Nezamzadeh '11Sports Writer
Women's lacrosse has done it again. They are Liberty League champions for the third consecutive year, second seed in the NCAA Division III tournament, and nationally ranked No. 8. To some it may have seemed easy, but the women faced off against Union, top seed in the Liberty League and No. 6 nationally, in regular season before making it to the Liberty League playoffs. As many of the players anticipated a good game against Union on April 24, none expected the outcome they received: a loss of 15-4. Union came out strong with more shots per period, more ground balls per period, and the least amount of turnovers per period.
Nonetheless, the women earned a spot in the Liberty League playoffs that took place this past weekend. In the semi-finals, the Continentals were up against William Smith. In regular season, the game was very close and went into overtime, but Hamilton proved to be better with a win of 8-7. When they faced them again, on May 1, the women were ready and beat them 14-8, placing Hamilton in the finals where they would play Union again.
It was cloudy in Schenectady, NY on May 2 and the women were facing off against the team they had lost horribly to just the weekend before. The game proved to be a test of skill and determination. It boiled down to who wanted it more: Union or Hamilton. Kate Marek '09 of Hamilton scored the winning shot 2:49 into overtime in a low scoring game, 4-3. In addition to a win, Liz Rave '10 won Tournament Most Valuable Player, and Kate Fowler '10, Kaillie Briscoe '09 and Liz Benjamin '09 were named to the all-tournament team.
Coach Patty Kloidt commented saying, " I am proud of my team for not dwelling on the first loss and losing our chance to the host the tournament for the third straight year. They could have kept thinking about that game but instead, we moved on and focused on our preparation to win the tournament."
Union has been a consistent opponent in the Liberty League championships for the past four years, and since 2007, the Continentals have succeeded in defeating them. As a result of their win last Saturday, the women received a first round bye in the 2009 NCAA tournament that will take place this weekend in Waterville, Maine at Colby College. They will still travel to ME to play the winner of the Williams College and Endicott College game on Saturday, May 9.
Coach Kloidt expressed her excitement and added, "I am proud of them [the women] for mentally and physically preparing themselves…It paid off. Everything works out and we are better by struggling through the adversity of last week and working hard to fix some things that could help us compete better."
The whole team is excited and cannot wait to play in the NCAA tournament to defend their national championship. They have most certainly worked hard to get to where they are now. With a regular season record of 14-2, Hamilton will enter the NCAA Division III tournament as the No. 1 team. Everyone back here at Hamilton wishes you the best of luck and knows that you guys can and will come home as national champions for the second consecutive year. Just remember to have fun!