Nationally ranked No. 19 Hamilton College travels to No. 6 Colby College for a 2012 NESCAC women's lacrosse championship quarterfinal at Colby's Bill Alfond Field in Waterville, Maine, on Saturday, April 28.
WEBCAST
No admission fee will be charged for this event that starts at 1 p.m. The winner moves on to the championship semifinals, which will be held at the site of the highest remaining seed, on Saturday, May 5. The title game is scheduled for Sunday, May 6.
Hamilton (6-9 overall, 4-6 NESCAC) finished in seventh place in the conference standings and is the championship's No. 7 seed. The Continentals are making their first appearance in this event. Hamilton's lacrosse teams competed in the Liberty League from 1996 to 2011.
The Continentals -- owners of the most difficult strength of schedule in Division III -- aim to break a three-game losing skid on Saturday. Hamilton has a 3-7 record in games decided by two goals or less this year. The Continentals have enjoyed recent national success with an NCAA title in 2008, national runner-up finish in 2010 and NCAA semifinalists in 2009.
Hamilton is led by Rachel Friedman '13, who is fourth on the team's all-time list with 145 career goals. Libby Schultz '12 entered the week ranked second in the NESCAC in assists and tied for fourth in points.
The Continentals have won four of the six meetings all-time against the Mules, but Colby has claimed the last two. The teams have met three times in the NCAA championship, including last year at SUNY Cortland, where the Mules rallied to edge Hamilton, 6-5.
Colby (13-1, 9-1) tied for first place in the conference standings and is the championship's No. 2 seed. The Mules have won five in a row as they enter a tournament they have enjoyed great success in through the years. Colby has appeared in all 11 previous championships with two titles to the Mules' credit. Colby has advanced to the championship game each of the last five years.
The Mules defeated the Continentals 11-9 in Florida back on March 20. At the start of the week, Colby led the NESCAC in fewest turnovers per game, saves per game and save percentage. Michelle Burt ranked first in the conference in save percentage and teammate Claire Dickson was second. Seven of the Mules' nine NESCAC victories have been by two goals or less.
Please find team capsules listed below.
No. 7 seed HAMILTON COLLEGE
Overall record: 6-9
Conference record (finish): 4-6 (7th place)
National ranking: No. 19
Head coach: Patty Kloidt, 10th year, 137-42
NESCAC championship appearances: First
NESCAC championship titles: None
NESCAC championship record: 0-0
Last win vs. Colby: 2010, 14-9 (NCAA regional final)
Road/neutral record: 4-6
Goals per game: 10.26
Goals allowed per game: 10.00
Leading goal scorers: Rachel Friedman ’13 (34), Katie D’Antonio ‘14 (24), Libby Schultz ’12 (22)
Assist leaders: Schultz (25), Friedman (13), D’Antonio (12)
Starting goalie: Dewi Caswell ‘14 (9.73 gaa, .398 save pct., 5-6)
No. 2 seed COLBY COLLEGE
Overall record: 13-1
Conference record (finish): 9-1 (T-1st place)
National ranking: No. 6
NCAA regional ranking: No. 2 in New England Region
Head coach: Karen Henning, 5th year, 72-19
NESCAC championship appearances: 12th
NESCAC championship titles: Two (2008, 2009)
NESCAC championship record: 15-9
Last win vs. Hamilton: 2012, 11-9 (March 20 in Clermont, Fla.)
Home record: 6-0
Goals per game: 12.36
Goals allowed per game: 7.21
Leading goal scorers: Lindsey McKenna ‘14 (38), Kate Pistel ‘13 (21), Claire Donegan ’12 (17), Katie Griffin ’14 (17)
Assist leaders: Sarah Lux ’14 (22), Donegan (16), Katharine Eddy ‘14 (16)
Starting goalie: Michelle Burt ‘14 (7.38 gaa, .542 save pct., 8-1)
