Hamilton College travels to Skidmore College for the 2010 Liberty League field hockey tournament final at Thoroughbred Field on Saturday, Nov. 6, at 1 p.m.
Hamilton (13-2 overall) is the No. 2 seed in the tournament, and is tied for 14th in this week's Division III Top 20 coaches poll. The Continentals are ranked fourth in the North Atlantic Region by the NCAA. Skidmore (17-1) is the top seed, and ranked seventh in the Division III coaches poll and No. 1 in the North Atlantic Region.
The winner earns the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III championships, which start on Wednesday, Nov. 10. The runner-up must wait until late Sunday, Nov. 7, to find out if they receive an at-large berth.
Hamilton set a team record with its 13th win -- a 2-1 overtime victory against William Smith College -- in a league tournament semifinal on Nov. 3. The Continentals are making their third appearance in the tournament -- all in the last three years. In 2009, Hamilton advanced to its first tournament championship game, but lost 3-2 in overtime at Skidmore.
The Thoroughbreds have appeared in all nine league tournaments. Skidmore is aiming for its third straight tournament title, and fifth overall. The Thoroughbreds are 4-2 in the championship game. Skidmore has won 16 straight contests and is 11-0 at home. The Thoroughbreds average nearly five goals per game.
The series between the programs has recently been one-sided. Skidmore holds a 19-14 lead all-time, but has won 15 in a row against the Continentals. Hamilton's last win was back in 1996. The Thoroughbreds edged the Continentals 2-1 on Oct. 24 to clinch the regular season title.
A capsule look at each team can be found below.
No. 1 seed SKIDMORE COLLEGE
Overall record: 17-1
League record (finish): 7-0 (1st place)
NCAA regional ranking: First in North Atlantic Region
Head coach: Beth Hallenbeck, ninth year at Skidmore, 132-45-1 (202-122-2 overall)
League tournament appearances: Ninth
League tournament titles: Four
League tournament record: 11-4
Last win vs. Hamilton: October 24, 2010 – 2-1 (away)
Home record: 11-0
Goals scored: 88
Goals allowed: 14
Leading goal scorers: Christine Kemp ’11 (23), Kelly Blackhurst ’14 (19), Annie Rosencrans ’12 (16)
Assist leaders: Kemp (19), Rosencrans (8), Brittany O’Brien ’11 (8), Lauren McCarthy ’11 (7)
Starting goalie: Liz Catinella ’11 (0.75 GAA, .831 save pct., 17-1 record, 3 sho)
No. 2 seed HAMILTON COLLEGE
Overall record: 13-2
League record (finish): 6-1 (2nd place)
NCAA regional ranking: Fourth in North Atlantic Region
Head coach: Gillian McDonald, fifth year at Hamilton, 42-33
League tournament appearances: Third
League tournament titles: None
League tournament record: 2-2
Last win vs. Skidmore: 1996 – 3-0
Road record: 6-1
Goals scored: 54
Goals allowed: 19
Leading goal scorers: Colleen Callaghan ’11 (19), Erin McNally ’12 (10), Nikki Haskins ’14 (9)
Assist leaders: Callaghan (11), Catie Torcivia ’12 (9), McNally (6)
Starting goalie: Molly Brooks ‘14 (1.23 GAA, .789 save pct., 13-2 record, 4 sho)
