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The Spectator
Field Hockey Heads to Finals
Shuts down St. Lawerence offense for 1-0 semifinal win
by David Meisel '13Sports Writer
November 06, 2009
Following a stellar 2008 campaign, the women's field hockey team has continued to excel. After posting an 8-7 record and their first-ever appearance in the four-team Liberty League Championship tournament last year, finished the 2009 regular season with an 11-3 record. They also held a 6-1 record in conference play following the conclusion of the Liberty League's regular season. The team had won five straight contests, outscoring their opponents 15-4 in the process.
The sixth straight win was the most important of the season because it advanced the team past the first round of the playoffs. The defense continued their success in the 1-0 win against St. Lawerence. Following an earlier 4-2 home victory last month against the same opponent, the Continentals bested their effort with this semifinal victory.
They hope to cap off their best season in team history with a rematch against Skidmore College in the Liberty League finals. Despite losing previously to Skidmore 1-4 on the road, the team has not lost since, and has gained a great amount of confidence along the way.
With a raucous crowd on hand to give the Continentals the largest attendance this season, Hamilton went on a tear last week to finish out the season with a bang. Against Nazareth College and Morrisville State College, the team outshot their opponents and commanded the games from the start. On October 29, Catie Torcivia '12 came off the bench to score twice in the 2-0 shutout against Nazareth. She followed up her offensive outburst with another goal in the 7-1 blowout victory over Morrisville State two days later. The Morrisville State game represented the most points the team had scored in a game all season and Colleen Callaghan '11 and Mary Lancaster '12 aided Torcivia in attacking the zone with an efficient attack.
Callaghan came on strong at the end of the season and her output on the field has been pivotal for the team because she has established the tone for the offensive unit. She has moved up on the career assist leaderboard and now trails first place by only one assist in her quest to become one of Hamilton's most productive players ever to put on the field hockey uniform. With her 11 goals this year, she moved into a tie for the third most ever by a Continental for a season and it looks like she will step it up even further in the future.
With efforts from Callaghan and the offense this season, the defense has been able to stay fresh against its opponents near the end of the game. The team's recent defensive play makes it easy to see why the Continentals have done so well at the end of the season. Allowing only five shots on net during the last two games was a remarkable accomplishment. This has enabled goalkeeper Courtney DeMaria '10 to earn recognition around the Liberty League for her efforts in keeping everything away from the goal. She was recognized as the Defensive Performer of the Week prior to last week's match against Nazareth for her efforts during the two key road wins against conference foes.
With their 6-1 conference record, the team clinched a three-way tie for first place in the Liberty League, qualifying them for postseason play for the second consecutive season. As the second seed, they hosted and defeated third-seeded St. Lawrence University, who was ranked No. 16 nationally.
The team has achieved three impressive feats through its successful season: playing a home post-season game for the first time in 20 years; breaking the team record for wins; and for the first time in the history of the program, sharing the Liberty League regular-season title.
It will be a historic road game against number one seed Skidmore in the finals. They hope to take away their first Liberty League Title. The team will try to get revenge for their previous loss this Saturday at 1 p.m.