LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – With four seniors gracing Charlotte Smith Field for the last time, the Lock Haven University field hockey team (17-1, 7-0 NEC) clinched the Northeast Conference Regular-Season Title with a win over the Monmouth University Hawks (7-9, 2-4 NEC), 5-1 today. Junior Nikki Sweger (Dauphin/Central Dauphin East) had a hat trick by halftime.

Sweger got things started less than 10 minutes into the game as she stickhandled through traffic to the middle of the circle to fire into the right side of the cage. The Hawks showed some spark when Susan Ganghamer took a pass on a two-on-one break and hit to even up the score.

Senior Kellie Kulina (Hummelstown/Lower Dauphin) took a rebound and tapped it in for the game winner. Sweger followed less than two minutes later on a shot deflection from reigning senior Katie Stewartz (Boyertown/Boyertown) to increase the lead to 3-1.

Sweger got her trifecta off a pass from Courtney Hughes (Schwenksville/Souderton) with less than 30 seconds left in the half. Freshman Renee Kemmerer (Nineveh, N.Y./Afton) capped the scoring with a penalty stroke.

Lady Eagle goalkeeper Melissa Stubblefield (Carmel, N.Y./Carmel) made four saves to improve to 15-1 and Carrie Colbert made 15 saves to take the loss. Senior Erin Weibley (Loysville/West Perry) was a key part of the defensive line that didn’t allow a shot on goal in the second half.

Sweger, Kulina, Stewartz, Hughes, Kemmerer, Stubblefield, Weibley and the rest of the Lady Eagles are back in action on Sunday, Oct. 24 at 1 p.m. as they travel to Fairfield University