>>>2000 Field Hockey Schedule/Results

>>>2000 Field Hockey Statistics

NCAA Championships -- Final
Lock Haven 2, Bentley 0
Lock Haven, Pa.
Sun., November 5, 2000

Team (LHU/OPP):  Shots on Goal 17/3; Penalty Corners 8/2; Goalie Saves 8/2
Goalkeeping: Tara Beach (LHU) 70:00,  1 saves, 0 GA; Liz Novis (BC) 70:00, 8 saves, 2 GA

(Lock Haven, Pa.) — The Lock Haven Lady Eagles capture their fifth NCAA Division II title and their seventh national title overall as they defeated Bentley College, 2-0, in the 2000 NCAA Division II National Championship this afternoon at LHU’s Charlotte Smith Field.

LHU scored once in each half to secure the victory and finish the season with a 21-2-0 overall record. This is the first national crown for Haven Head Coach Pat Rudy, and the first for the squad since 1995. Bentley College closes their season with a 17-4-0 overall mark and its second consecutive runner-up honor.

An intense physical battle ensued in the first half, with both squads making breaks for the goal only to be thwarted by strong play by both defenses. Still, the momentum started to swing towards Lock Haven as the minutes went by, and on their second penalty corner attempt, Lock Haven’s Shanna Vitale (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John Jay) blasted a shot through to the back left of the cage for the game-winning score.

“Our corners are always huge for Lock Haven,” explained Lock Haven Head Coach Pat Rudy. “Shanna Vitale is extremely dangerous on those, and it’s a major part of our game plan. We didn’t get many in the first half, but in the second, we tried to keep the ball on the right, and get it to Vitale and Spease, and the result was that we did much better.”

The open of the second half was just as tight as the opening stanza, as the Lady Eagles and the Falcons were both able to advance the ball down field. The Haven was the only team able to get the shots off inside the circle, however, and went up by two after Vitale’s free hit was redirected for the score by Amy Hale (Hanover/South Western) in the 55th minute.

“It was great to get that first goal, but 1-0 is not a comfortable lead, and neither is 2-0 for that matter, it’s actually even less so because your kids could start to lay off a little,” said Coach Rudy.

And Bentley did counter, earning the penalty corner attempt with 12:30 remaining, but the shot attempt by Allyson Bunce (East Dennis, Mass./Dennis-Yarmouth Regional) was stopped by LHU’s Jen DeNault (Hamburg/Hamburg), and The Haven regained control.

“Jen DeNault has been so poised for a freshman,” said Coach Rudy. “She got caught a few times in the first half, but she came out on that penalty corner and was right there.”

LHU would set the pace for the remainder of the half, taking a total 12 shots on goal in the second period, and would hold on to its lead for the national title.

“They were just attacking us very strongly all game,” said Bentley Head Coach Kelly McGowan. “We have a young defense, and they were just taking advantage of it.”

“I am proud of the team for getting here again,” continued Coach McGowan. “We lost a lot of senior leadership and big players from last season, and everyone told us it was going to be a rebuilding year, but it wasn’t. We played ourselves back to the national championships, and it’s unfortunate that it had to end the same way it did last year, but they’ve just all done a good job.”

“It feels great — we’ve been waiting for this for five years,” exclaimed Lock Haven Head Coach Pat Rudy. “The team has been goal-oriented from the start, and this was what we were shooting for.”

The Championships All-Tournament Team consists of Sarah Alves and Morgan Phillips of Saint Michael’s College, Bethany Caputa and Jen Lawler of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Kristyn Bates, Allyson Bunce, and Ann Marie Sheridan of Bentley College, and Lock Haven’s Erika Grap, Jen DeNault, Shannon Spease, and Shanna Vitale.

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NCAA Championships -- Semifinal
Lock Haven 2, IUP 1
Lock Haven, Pa.
Fri., November 3, 2000

Team (LHU/OPP):  Shots on Goal 49/4; Penalty Corners 20/2; Goalie Saves 29/2
Goalkeeping: Tara Beach (LHU) 70:00,  0 saves, 0 GA; Jen Lawler (IUP) 70:00, 29 saves, 2 GA

(Lock Haven, Pa.) — Lock Haven’s Erika Grap (Van Etten, N.Y./Spencer-Van Etten) used a scoop shot to the upper right corner of the cage to net the winning goal for the Lady Eagles, catapulting Lock Haven to its ninth title game appearance with a 2-1 victory over Indiana University of Pennsylvania (14-6-0) ) in today's NCAA Division II National Championship semifinal round.

Lock Haven dominated the first half of play, outshooting the Indians 21-1, but the offense could not convert and so the squads entered the half deadlocked in a scoreless tie.

“We didn’t get a good start, but towards the end of the first half, we really began to pick it up,” said LHU Head Coach Pat Rudy. “Indiana was marking Shannon Spease hard, and as soon as she got across the 25 yardline, they double-teamed her. And that was an effective strategy, because it did take her out of her normal game plan.”

After 21 shots on goal in the first half but no goals to show for it, The Haven attack took little time going back at it, with junior forward Shannon Spease (Liverpool/Greenwood) finally netting a score in the 38th minute to give LHU the 1-0 lead. Senior back Michelle Hickey (Greene, N.Y./Greene Central) got the ball off a penalty corner on the top right of the arc, and rocketed a shot towards the cage, and Spease stepped in and redirected it past IUP’s Jen Lawler (Schnecksville/Parkland) for the goal.

“Our corners were on, if you get the shot on goal, you did your job, and then you have to get the second shot, and at first we couldn’t get that for whatever reason,” said Rudy. “We tried a different penalty corner on that first goal. Michelle Hickey was key to that—it was a great goal, and we hadn’t scored off that corner all year. If you can get the redirect, you can get it around the goalie, because she almost always set for that first shot.”

Indiana’s Julie Hess (East Greenville/Upper Perkiomen) scored the equalizer off a shuffle pass from Michelle Benko (Lancaster/Lancaster Catholic), slipping the ball past the LHU defense and into the bottom left corner of the cage in the 54th minute to knot the contest at 1-1.

But The Haven prevailed, with Grap scoring the game-winner with just over eight minutes remaining. “Erika Grap was huge,” commented Rudy. “Usually we rely on Spease for the main portion of our offensive attack, but Grap was carrying the ball well and had beautiful shots.”

“They [Lock Haven] have an incredible defense — we only got four shots off. The attack is very smart too, and we had trouble shutting them down,” said IUP Head Coach Noelle Bowman.

For the contest, Lock Haven outshot Indiana by a 49-4 margin, a new NCAA Division II championship record for shots by a team as well as the record for combined shots. The Haven also held a 20-2 advantage in penalty corners.

Lock Haven keeper Tara Beach (Greene, N.Y./Greene Central) spent the entire 70 minutes in goal, allowing just one score. IUP’s keeper Jen Lawler made an incredible 29 saves, while allowing two goals.

“Jen Lawler had an outstanding year, is a hard worker, but sometimes we rely on her a little too much to play big, but she’s really stepped up her level of play this year,” commented Bowman.

“You have to give a lot of credit to their goalkeeper — she did a great job. The last part of the first half we were pounding the goal, and we also had some good corner shots,” echoed LHU’s Rudy.

The Lady Eagles, now 20-2-0 overall, will face Bentley College (17-3-0) in the championship game on Sunday, November 5, at 1 p.m. on Lock Haven’s Charlotte Smith Field.

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PSAC Championship Game
#1 Lock Haven 6, #4 Indiana (Pa.) University 0
Lock Haven, Pa.
Sat., October 28, 2000

Team (LHU/OPP):  Shots on Goal 25/5; Penalty Corners 12/3; Goalie Saves 3/12
Goalkeeping: Tara Beach (LHU) 70:00,  3 saves, 0 GA; Jen Lawler (IUP) 70:00, 12 saves, 6 GA

Highlights: Led by junior forward and Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Field Hockey Championship MVP Shannon Spease (Liverpool/Greenwood), the No. 1 seed Lock Haven University Lady Eagles shutout No. 2 seed Indiana (Pa.) University, 6-0, to capture their 10th PSAC crown since the inception of the championship in 1979. It was LHU’s 10th title in 16 championship game appearances, and its third in five seasons under Head Coach Pat Rudy. The win also marked the squad’s 15th shutout victory this season. This was Indiana’s first attempt at a PSAC title after defeating defending champion Bloomsburg University in the semifinals, 2-0.

The Haven scoring barrage opened early in the first half, as LHU midfielder Shanna Vitale (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John Jay) got her own rebound off a deflected penalty corner, and cracked the ball past IUP keeper Jen Lawler (Schnecksville/Parkland) from 10 yards out with just under five minutes gone from the clock. The Lady Eagles used another penalty corner to score in the 20th minute, as Vitale passed the ball to junior forward Val George (New Oxford/New Oxford) who redirected the ball into the left corner of the cage for LHU’s second goal. At 21:45, LHU was awarded a free hit, leading to a goal by midfielder Amy Hale (Hanover/South Western) to close out the first half with a comfortable 3-0 advantage..

MVP Shannon Spease lit up the scoreboard in the second half, scoring twice on breakaway goals. In the 50th minute, Kasey Rizzetto (Fleetwood/Oley Valley) started a break down the field, and was flanked by Erika Grap (Van Etten, N.Y./Spencer-Van Etten) and Spease. Rizzetto hit Grap on the run, who drew out the keeper then passed off to Spease for the score. Spease scored again on an unassisted drive, winning a one-on-one with IUP’s Lawler. Sophomore midfielder Megan Dwyer (Collegeville/Perkiomen Valley) capped off Haven scoring, shooting the ball into the cage off a pass from Shana Vitale on a penalty corner.

LHU goalkeeper Tara Beach (Greene, N.Y./Greene Central) earned her 14th shutout of the year, stopping three IUP attempts on goal. Indiana netminder Jen Lawler recorded 12 saves in the outing.

Up Next: Both teams will have to wait until Sunday, October 29, to hear if they have earned a NCAA Division II National Championships berth. The NCAA Division II Field Hockey National Championships will be held on Friday, November 3 (Semifinals) and Sunday, November 5 (Championship Game), with the location and times still to be announced.

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#1 Lock Haven 4, #9 Assumption College 0
Lock Haven, Pa.
Sun., October 22, 2000

Team (LHU/OPP):  Shots on Goal 26/2; Penalty Corners 11/2; Goalie Saves 2/9
Goalkeeping: Tara Beach (LHU) 62:13, 0 saves, 0 GA; Ododo Omo-Osagie (LHU) 7:47, 2 saves, 0 GA; Kristyn Bonnyman (AC) 70:00, 9 saves, 4 GA

Highlights: The Lady Eagles close out the regular season with an 18-2-0 record after today’s 4-0 win over Assumption College. It marked the 14th shutout victory for The Haven this year.

Junior Val George (New Oxford/New Oxford) struck first for the Lady Eagles, putting LHU on the scoreboard eight and a half minutes into the game. Erika Grap (Van Etten, N.Y./Spencer-Van Etten) got the rebound off a goalkeeper save, and sent the ball into the cage in the 24th minute. Two minutes later, Shanna Vitale (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John Jay) crossed the ball into the circle from the far right side, and Amy Hale (Hanover/South Western) directed it into the cage past the Greyhound keeper for LHU’s third goal of the game. Vitale pocketed the final goal of the game midway through the second half, scoring from the top of the arc off a deflected penalty corner.

Haven keepers Tara Beach (Greene, N.Y./Greene Central) and Ododo Omo-Osagie (Hershey/Milton Hershey) split the shutout victory, with Omo-Osagie also tallying two saves. Assumption goalkeeper Kristyn Bonnyman (Mansfield, Mass.) recorded nine saves on the contest.

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#1 Lock Haven 3, Slippery Rock 0
Lock Haven, Pa.
Sat., October 21, 2000

Team (LHU/OPP):  Shots on Goal 40/0; Penalty Corners 24/0; Goalie Saves 0/8
Goalkeeping: Tara Beach (LHU) 70:00, 0 saves, 0 GA; Kristen Sand (SRU) 70:00, 8 saves, 3 GA

Highlights: Lock Haven closes out the 2000 conference season with a perfect 8-0-0 record after a 3-0 victory over Slippery Rock University this afternoon. It is the first time since the 1995 season and the first time under Head Coach Pat Rudy that the Lady Eagles have gone undefeated in conference play.

Haven scoring took place in the opening three minutes and closing four minutes of the game despite the 40-0 shot and 24-0 penalty corner advantage. In the first half, Shannon Spease (Liverpool/Greenwood) slipped one past the SRU keeper just 2:31 into the contest on a reverse sweep from the right side.

LHU’s final two goals came in the closing minutes of the second half. With just under four minutes remaining, Shanna Vitale (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John Jay) worked her way into scoring position and sent the ball past a charging SRU keeper. One and a half minutes later, Erika Grap (Van Etten, N.Y./Spencer-Van Etten) met a pass from Jen DeNault (Hamburg/Hamburg) five yards out on the right-hand side and threaded the defense for The Haven’s third goal.

The Lock Haven defense picks up its 13th shutout of the year, and goalkeeper Tara Beach (Greene, N.Y./Greene Central) earns her 12.5 shutout of the season. Slippery Rock keeper Kristen Sand (Oley, Pa.) posted eight saves with three goals against.

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#1 Lock Haven 6, Millersville 0
Lock Haven, Pa.
Wed., October 18, 2000

Team (LHU/OPP):  Shots on Goal 30/5; Penalty Corners 16/1; Goalie Saves 3/12
Goalkeeping: Tara Beach (LHU) 70:00, 3 saves, 0 GA; Mandy Houser (MU) 25:54, 2 saves, 3 GA; Kris Sokoloski (MU) 44:06, 10 saves, 3 GA.

Highlights: No. 1-ranked (NFHCA) Lock Haven improved to 7-0-0 in the conference with today’s 6-0 victory over Millersville University.

The Haven’s starting forward trio of Shanna Vitale (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John Jay), Shannon Spease (Liverpool/Greenwood), and Erika Grap (Van Etten, N.Y./Spencer-Van Etten) led the way, each notching two goals and an assist to lift the Lady Eagles over the Marauders. Vitale’s shot from the top of the arc with just over nine minutes expired threaded a crowd of defenders and sailed into the cage to put LHU on the scoreboard. Spease was the next to score, breaking in from the left to receive the pass from Vitale for the goal.

Grap netted both her goals in the latter half of the first frame, finishing off a two-on-one break after an assist from Val George (New Oxford/New Oxford), then scoring off a pass from Spease.

In the second half, Spease took the ball herself from midfield with a little over 15 minutes remaining in the contest and drove downfield, where she drew out, then sidestepped the ‘Ville keeper to score the goal. Vitale capped off Haven scoring, receiving the ball from Grap in the front of the goal in the 59th minute.

For the contest, LHU recorded a 30-5 shot and a 16-1 penalty corner advantage over Millersville. Haven keeper Tara Beach (Greene, N.Y./Greene) recorded three saves, while Millersville’s Mandy Houser (Freeburg, Pa.) tallied two saves in 26 minutes of work, and Kris Sokoloski (Aurora, Ohio) thwarted 10 LHU attempts on goal.

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#1 Lock Haven 4, #6 Longwood 0 
Farmville, Va. 
Sun., October 15, 2000

Team (LHU/OPP):  Shots on Goal 26/13; Penalty Corners 14/11; Goalie Saves 8/14
Goalkeeping: Tara Beach (LHU) 70:00, 8 saves, 0 GA; Stephanie Potter (LC) 70:00, 14 saves, 4 GA

Highlights: The #1 Lady Eagles improve to 15-2 overall and go 4-0 after a week’s competition on the road with today’s 4-0 shutout over #6 Longwood College.

Shannon Spease (Liverpool/Greenwood) recorded the game-winner, opening the scoring at the 14-minute mark with an unassisted shot. Shanna Vitale (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John Jay) and Val George (New Oxford/New Oxford) both connected in the first stanza to send LHU into halftime intermission with a 3-0 lead. Michelle Hickey (Greene, N.Y./Greene Central) rocketed a shot into the cage with 1:48 remaining in the contest to cap off Haven scoring.

Haven keeper Tara Beach (Greene, N.Y./Greene) recorded eight saves and now has 10.5 shutouts this season. Longwood keeper Stephanie Potter made 14 stops while allowing four goals.

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#1 Lock Haven 6, Philadelphia 0 
Alumni Field ~ Philadelphia, Pa. 
Sat., October 14, 2000

Team (LHU/OPP):  Shots on Goal 29/0; Penalty Corners 15/1; Goalie Saves 0/18
Goalkeeping: Tara Beach (LHU) 70:00, 0 saves, 0 GA

Highlights: Head Coach Pat Rudy reached the 300 career wins mark and The Haven recorded its 10th shutout victory of the season with a 6-0 win over Philadelphia.

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#1 Lock Haven 4, Mansfield 1 
Mansfield, Pa. 
Thurs., October 12, 2000

Team (LHU/OPP):  Shots on Goal 30/2; Penalty Corners 15/5; Goalie Saves 1/18
Goalkeeping: Tara Beach (LHU) 70:00, 1 save, 1 GA; Heather Long (MU) 70:00, 18 saves, 4 GA

Highlights: The #1 Lady Eagles remain undefeated in PSAC action after taking a 4-1 victory over Mansfield University this afternoon. The Haven outshot the Mountaineers 30-2 and held a 15-5 advantage in penalty corners.

Erika Grap (Van Etten, N.Y./Spencer-Van Etten) led off Haven scoring less than a minute into the contest, directing a shot past the MU keeper. Shanna Vitale (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John Jay) found Val George (New Oxford/New Oxford) open for the second score of the game in the 11th minute. Shannon Spease (Liverpool/Greenwood) rifled a shot into the cage with just one second remaining in the first half to put LHU on top 3-0 before the intermission.

Spease added another early in the second half, meeting a pass from Marcy Frymoyer (Thompsontown/East Juniata) to score the fourth goal of the game and her ninth goal of the season. Mansfield got one on the scoreboard late in the game, with Michele Rohrer notching the lone score off an assist from Michelle Kaslasky.

Haven keeper Tara Beach (Greene, N.Y./Greene) had one save, and Mansfield goalie Heather Long gave up four goals but also deflected 18 shots on goal.

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#1 Lock Haven 2, #2 Bloomsburg 1 
Bloomsburg, Pa. 
Tues., October 10, 2000

Team (LHU/OPP):  Shots on Goal 6/6; Penalty Corners 6/7; Goalie Saves 5/4
Goalkeeping: Tara Beach (LHU) 70:00, 5 saves, 1 GA; Trish Leitzel (BU) 70:00, 4 saves, 2 GA

Highlights: The #1 Lady Eagles were the last ones standing in the regular season showdown against national rival #2 Bloomsburg University, defeating the Huskies for the first time since the 1998 PSAC Championship game by a final 2-1 margin. It is also the first time since 1997 that LHU has won the regular season match-up between the two squads.

After a scoreless first half, Bloomsburg took the first lead of the game off a goal by Tara Fabian just over four minutes into the second half. Four minutes later, Lock Haven’s Shannon Spease (Liverpool/Greenwood) scored off a penalty corner to knot the game at 1-1. With 13:42 remaining, LHU’s Shanna Vitale (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John Jay) hit a free shot towards Amy Hale (Hanover/Southwestern), who redirected the ball into the back of the cage for the game-winner.

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#1 Lock Haven 3, #7 (D-III) SUNY Cortland 0 
Charlotte Smith Field ~  Lock Haven, Pa. 
Sat., October 7, 2000

Team (LHU/OPP):  Shots on Goal 19/4; Penalty Corners 12/9; Goalie Saves 2/6
Goalkeeping: Tara Beach (LHU) 70:00, 2 saves, 0 GA; Becky Gillette (MU) 70:00, 6 saves, 3 GA

Highlights: The Lady Eagles rebounded from Tuesday’s loss to record a 3-0 shutout over SUNY Cortland this afternoon. Senior Michelle Hickey (Greene, N.Y./Greene Central) led the way, tallying the game-winning goal and also adding the assist on The Haven’s second score.

Junior Val George (New Oxford/New Oxford) and sophomore Amy Hale (Hanover/Southwestern) scored LHU’s remaining two goals, while freshman Jen DeNault (Hamburg/Hamburg) aided the effort by adding two assists.

In goal, junior Tara Beach (Greene, N.Y./Greene) recorded the shutout while tallying two saves, and Cortland’s Becky Gillette stopped six Haven shots while allowing three goals.

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#1 Lock Haven 1, Bucknell University 2  OT
Lewisburg, Pa. 
Tues., October 3, 2000

Team (LHU/OPP):  Shots on Goal 8/8; Penalty Corners 8/7; Goalie Saves 6/6
Goalkeeping: Tara Beach (LHU) 81:30, 6 saves, 2 GA; Sonja Wettergreen (BU) 81:30, 6 saves, 1 GA

Highlights: The No 1-ranked Lady Eagle field hockey team (10-2, 4-0 PSAC) fell to Division I Bucknell University (6-5), 1-2, after a tightly fought overtime battle.

LHU’s Shanna Vitale (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John Jay), this past week’s PSAC Co-Player of the Week, put The Haven on the board midway through the first half. Bucknell tied up the game in the 45th minute by a goal from Dena Ebert, which was enough to force the extra period to decide the contest. With 3:30 remaining on the clock in the first overtime, the Lady Eagles were unable to stop Ebert, who slipped the game-winner past the LHU defense to tally the win.

LHU keeper Tara Beach (Greene, N.Y./Greene) played the entire game, recording six saves with two goals allowed. The Bisons’ keeper Sonja Wettergreen also stopped six shots, while allowing one score.

The Lady Eagles are now 1-2 in overtime games this season, while Bucknell stands perfect at 3-0 in games forced into extra stanzas.

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#3 Lock Haven 7, Southern Connecticut State University 0
Lock Haven, Pa. 
Sat., September 30, 2000

Team (LHU/OPP):  Shots on Goal 37/1; Penalty Corners 20/0; Goalie Saves 0/19
Goalkeeping: Tara Beach (LHU) 51:06, 0 saves, 0 GA; Ododo Omo-Osagie (LHU) 18:54, 0 saves, 0 GA; Sarah Dube (SCSU) 47:15, 14 saves, 7 GA; Carrie Gardner (SCSU) 22:45, 5 saves, 0 GA

Highlights: The No. 3-ranked Lady Eagle field hockey team recorded its eighth shutout victory of the 2000 season with a 7-0 victory over Southern Connecticut State University. The Haven dominated the pace of the game, outshooting the Owls by a 37-1 margin. Shanna Vitale (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John Jay) pocketed her first hat trick of the season and Kasey Rizzetto (Fleetwood/Oley Valley) tallied a pair of goals to lead the Haven offensive forces.

Also finding the back of the cage for LHU were Amy Hale (Hanover/Southwestern) and Marcy Yousaitis (West Lawn/Wilson).

LHU keepers Tara Beach (Greene, N.Y./Greene) and Ododo Omo-Osagie (Hershey/Milton Hershey) shared time in goal for the shutout, and SCSU goalies Sarah Dube and Carrie Gardner shared time in the cage for the Owls, recording a combined total of 19 saves.

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#3 Lock Haven 2, #1 Indiana (PA) University 1,  OT
Lock Haven, Pa. 
Wed., September 27, 2000

Team (LHU/OPP):  Shots on Goal 36/10; Penalty Corners 16/5; Goalie Saves 4/14
Goalkeeping: Tara Beach (LHU) 83:40, 4 saves, 1 GA; Jen Lawler (BU) 83:40, 14 saves, 2 GA

Highlights: Junior Katie Cornax’s (Hopewell Junction/ John Jay) game winning goal helped the 3rd ranked Lady Eagles defeat the Lady Indians of Indiana University, ranked 1st in the nation, by a final tally of 2-1 in overtime.

The Haven controlled the ball for most of the game, outshooting the Lady Indians, 36-10, but in the 12th minute of the second half IUP’s Jamie Bailey scored the first goal of the game. Lady Eagles Shanna Vitale (Hopewell Junction/ John Bay) retaliated on a penalty corner shot, assisted by Liz Marionni (Dalton/ Lackawanna Trail) and Val George (New Oxford/New Oxford), six minutes later in the second half to tie the game up 1-1. It wasn’t until the last minute of overtime when LHU’s Katie Cornax scrambled to net the winning goal in overtime to put the Lady Eagles on top for good.

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#3 Lock Haven 3, #7 Mercyhurst College 0
Lock Haven, Pa. 
Sun., September 24, 2000

Team (LHU/OPP):  Shots on Goal 29/5; Penalty Corners 13/2; Goalie Saves 4/13
Goalkeeping: Tara Beach (LHU) 70:00, 4 saves, 0 GA; Summer Kraatz (MC) 70:00, 13 saves, 3 GA

Highlights: Led by sophomore Erika Grap’s (Van Etten, N.Y./Spencer-Van Etten) two goals, the 3rd ranked Lady Eagles defeated the Lady Lakers of Mercyhurst College, ranked 7th in the nation, by a final tally of 3-0 and stretched their early season winning streak to five games.

The Haven controlled the tempo of the game, outshooting the Lady Lakers, 29-5, but it wasn’t until the 26th minute of the first half that LHU’s Grap scored her first goal. Lady Eagles Liz Marionni (Dalton/Lackawanna Trail) and Grap recorded goals early in the second half to give LHU the three-goal cushion and eventual victory.

Mercyhurst keeper Summer Kraatz (Wilson, N.Y.) kept busy, collecting 13 saves while allowing three goals. LHU goalie Tara Beach (Greene, N.Y./Greene) notched four saves and her seventh shutout of the season.

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Lock Haven 1, Kutztown University 0
Lock Haven, Pa. 
Wed., September 20, 2000

Team (LHU/OPP):  Shots on Goal 22/6; Penalty Corners 14/4; Goalie Saves 2/9
Goalkeeping: Tara Beach (LHU) 70:00, 2 saves, 0 GA; Erin Hammond (KU) 70:00, 9 saves, 1 GA

Highlights: The Lady Eagle field hockey team came up with the close 1-0 victory over Kutztown, edging out the Golden Bears in the second half for the win. LHU outshot the Golden Bears by a margin of 22-6, and The Haven tallied a 14-4 advantage in penalty corners.

LHU’s goal was scored in the 51st minute, as a botched penalty corner attempt turned into a scramble in front of the cage. Shannon Spease (Liverpool/Greenwood) was able to direct the ball past the defense and towards Val George (New Oxford/New Oxford), who was breaking for the goal. George slipped the ball past the KU keeper for the game-winner.

In goal for Kutztown was Erin Hammond, who played the entire 70:00 minutes and contributed nine saves. Lock Haven’s Tara Beach (Greene, N.Y./Greene) went the distance, recording two saves and her sixth shutout of the season.

Last season, Kutztown defeated the Lady Eagles on the road, 2-1.

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Lock Haven 5, University of Rochester 0
Lock Haven, Pa. 
Sun., September 17, 2000

Team (LHU/OPP):  Shots on Goal 22/4; Penalty Corners 10/5; Goalie Saves 3/10
Goalkeeping: Tara Beach (LHU) 70:00, 3 saves, 0 GA; Amy Shutt/Pamela Sheffield (UR)61:22/8:38, 10/0 saves, 4/1 GA

Highlights: The Lady Eagles dominated this afternoon’s non-conference contest against the visiting Yellowjackets of the University of Rochester, closing out the game with a 5-0 goal advantage.

LHU’s Shannon Spease (Liverpool/Greenwood) and Shanna Vitale (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John Jay) led the way with two goals apiece. Spease recorded her two scores in the first half, including the first goal of the game in the 22nd minute. Vitale was the story in the second half, tallying both her goals in the final stanza, including one with 12 seconds remaining in the game. Lock Haven’s remaining goal came in the first half, resulting from a scramble after a missed penalty corner attempt, as junior Val George (New Oxford/New Oxford) knocked the ball past the Rochester keeper in the contest’s 27th minute.

Rochester goalkeepers Amy Shutt and Pamela Sheffield split duties tending the net, with Shutt recording 10 saves and four goals against, and Sheffield filling in for the final 8:38 of the contest with one goal against. Lock Haven keeper Tara Beach (Greene, N.Y./Greene) records her fifth shutout of the season, posting three saves.

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Lock Haven 1, East Stroudsburg 0
East Stroudsburg, Pa. 
Sat., September 16, 2000

Team (LHU/OPP):  Shots on Goal 17/7; Penalty Corners 10/10; Goalie Saves 7/14
Goalkeeping: Tara Beach (LHU) 70:00, 7 saves, 0 GA; Kelly Wagner (ESU)70:00, 14 saves, 1 GA

Highlights: The Haven’s Shannon Spease (Liverpool/Greenwood) scored in the first half off an assist from Shanna Vitale (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John Jay) to seal the victory for the Lady Eagles, who also outshot the Warriors of East Stroudsburg 17-7. Junior Tara Beach (Greene, N.Y./Greene) spent the entire 70:00 in goal, posting seven saves for her fourth shutout of the season.

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Lock Haven 2, Shippensburg 0
Shippensburg, Pa. 
Wed., September 13, 2000

Team (LHU/OPP):  Shots on Goal 7/1; Penalty Corners 14/3; Goalie Saves 1/3
Goalkeeping: Tara Beach (LHU) 70:00, 1 save, 0 GA; Kira Fisher (SU)70:00, 3 saves, 2 GA

Highlights: The rematch of last year’s PSAC semifinal match between Lock Haven and Shippensburg was a defenders’ dual, with neither team scoring throughout 65 minutes of play. With just under five minutes left in the game, Shanna Vitale (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John Jay) gained control of a loose ball in front of the Lady Raiders’ cage and chipped it past the keeper to put the Lady Eagles on top, 1-0. Then Amy Hale (Hanover/Southwestern) and Erika Grap (Van Etten, N.Y./Spencer-Van Etten) capitalized on a breakaway scoring opportunity, with Grap netting LHU’s second goal and giving The Haven the two-goal cushion with only three minutes left in the contest.

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William Smith 5, Lock Haven 4 OT
Geneva, N.Y.
Sat.., September 9, 2000

Team (LHU/OPP):  Shots on Goal 18/11; Penalty Corners 11/12; Goalie Saves 8/10
Goalkeeping: Tara Beach (LHU) 82:56, 8 saves, 5 GA; Marjie MacVean (WS) 82:56, 10 saves, 4 GA

Highlights: Lock Haven opened up a 3-0 early lead thanks to a pair of goals by senior Liz Marionni (Dalton/Lackawanna Trail) and one from sophomore Kasey Rizzetto (Fleetwood/Oley Valley), but William Smith scored four times in the second, and with another goal by LHU's sophomore Amy Hales (Hanover/Southwestern), regulation time ran out with the two teams knotted at 4-4.  With just 2:04 remaining in the first overtime period, William Smith's Sheila McKevitt netted her second goal of the contest and the game winner for the Herons.

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Lock Haven 3, Juniata College 0
Charlotte Smith Field ~ Lock Haven, Pa.
Wed., September 6, 2000

Team (LHU/OPP):  Shots on Goal 30/0; Penalty Corners 9/1; Goalie Saves 0/14
Goalkeeping: Tara Beach (LHU) 70:00, 0 saves, 0 GA; Kara Elias (JC) 70:00, 14 saves, 3 GA

Highlights: LHU moves to 3-0 on the season after tonight’s 3-0 victory over the Juniata Eagles. The Lady Eagles dominated the game, the defense not allowing a single shot on goal, and the offense registering 30 shots at the Juniata goal. Just over 20 minutes into the game and still tied at 0-0, Juniata’s keeper made a save on an LHU penalty shot to keep the Lady Eagles off the scoreboard. Just before the close of the first half, senior forward Shanna Vitale (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John Jay) came up with the ball directly in front of the goal after a muddled penalty corner and sent it past the Juniata keeper to put LHU up, 1-0. Scoring for LHU in the second half was junior forward Val George (New Oxford/New Oxford) with an assist from Vitale, and junior forward Shannon Spease (Liverpool/Greenwood), who made a diving swing at the ball to send it into the bottom right corner of the goal.

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Lock Haven 4, Ithaca College 0
@ Ithaca College, Ithaca, N.Y.
Mon., September 4, 2000

Team (LHU/OPP):  Shots on Goal 25/17; Penalty Corners 14/15; Goalie Saves 11/9
Goalkeeping: Tara Beach (LHU) 70:00, 11 saves, 0 GA; Melissa Halderman (IC) 70:00, 9 saves, 4 GA

Highlights: The Lady Eagles improved to 2-0 with a 4-0 victory over Ithaca College today. Senior midfielder Liz Marionni (Dalton/Lackawanna Trail) notched a score just under three minutes into the contest, and Erika Grap (Van Etten, N.Y./Spencer-Van Etten), Val George (New Oxford/New Oxford), and Shannon Spease (Liverpool/Greenwood) all contributed goals in the win over the Bombers. Junior goalkeeper Tara Beach (Greene, N.Y./Greene) stopped 11 shots on goal, playing all 70 minutes.

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Lock Haven 4, Houghton College 1
@ Houghton College
Fri., September 1, 2000

Team (LHU/OPP):  Shots on Goal 14/8; Penalty Corners 3/2; Goalie Saves 6/4
Goalkeeping: Tara Beach (LHU) 70:00, 6 saves, 1 GA; Houghton 70:00, 4 saves, 4 GA

Highlights: The Lady Eagles opened the 2000 season in commanding fashion, scoring a 4-1 victory over Houghton College. Erika Grap (Van Etten, N.Y./Spencer-Van Etten) and Shannon Spease (Liverpool/Greenwood) both pocketed a pair of goals to help lead the Lock Haven offense. Junior goalkeeper Tara Beach (Greene, N.Y./Greene) led the defense, recording six saves with one goal against.