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November 6, 2002
NCAA Division II Field Hockey Title Up For Grabs This Weekend
Lock Haven Serves as Host For National Championships

(Lock Haven, Pa.) - The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II National Field Hockey Championship gets underway this weekend, Fri., November 8, through Sun., November 10, at Charlotte Smith Field on the campus of Lock Haven University. This year’s field includes three teams with tested championship experience and one quickly emerging force on the national scene. From the North Region, defending champion Bentley College (16-4) along with first-year participant Bryant College (13-4) will compete. The South Region’s Bloomsburg University (19-0) and Lock Haven University (18-4) will also battle it out for the national crown.
Semifinal games will be held on Fri., Nov. 8, with the four teams paired on a regional basis. The North Region’s Bentley and Bryant will play at 5 p.m., while Bloomsburg and Lock Haven out of the South Region pair up in the second semifinal game at 7:30 p.m. The winners of both games will meet in the championship game at 1 p.m. on Sun., Nov. 10.

This Year’s Field In Brief…

Bloomsburg University (19-0) owns a record six national titles in Division II, but is making its first appearance in the playoffs since the 1999 season. The Huskies have been ranked first in the nation throughout most of the season and are fresh off of winning their 11^th Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) championship last weekend.
            Defending champion Bentley College (16-4) makes its fourth straight appearance in the NCAA tournament and sixth overall. Last season the Falcons scored a 4-2 win over East Stroudsburg University to capture their first-ever national title. Most recently, Bentley captured its seventh-straight Northeast-10 Conference championship.
            Bryant College (13-4) makes its inaugural appearance in the national championships this season, finishing as a semifinalist in the Northeast-10 tournament after a 3-2 overtime loss to Bentley. This is the Bryant program’s fourth season in existence.
            Hosting this year’s championships is Lock Haven University (18-4), who makes its third-straight appearance at the NCAA tournament. The Lady Eagles have five Division II titles in their pockets already and will be looking to add a sixth this weekend. The Lady Eagles are coming off a 3-0 loss to Bloomsburg in the PSAC finals.

BENTLEY COLLEGE FALCONS www.bentley.edu/athletics

Head Coach Kelly McGowan
Bentley College

Location: Waltham, Mass.
Enrollment: 3,850
Colors: Blue & Gold
Nickname: Falcons
Conference: Northeast-10
Appearances in NCAA's: 6
D-II National Titles: 1 (2001)

Bentley College hopes to add a second national title to its collection this weekend, as eighth-year head coach Kelly McGowan leads her 16-4 Falcons into their fourth-straight tournament appearance. Bentley is riding a five-game winning streak which includes an overtime victory over Bryant in the NE-10 semifinals. Senior forward Kristyn Bates (Greenfield, Mass./Greenfield) earned first-team all-conference honors this season after leading Bentley in scoring with 10 goals and three assists. Joining her on the first team list was sophomore Jenn Walker (Lyman, Maine/Massabesic), who has posted six goals and a team-best eight assists. Falcons earning second team all-conference honors include senior midfielder Carolyn Bolster (Walpole, Mass./Walpole) (5g, 4a), junior defender Kara Bouvier (West Brookfield, Mass./Quaboag Regional) (1g, 1a), and senior defender Jenny Cahill (Milton, Mass./Milton) (3g, 1a). Lauren Galenski (Deerfield, Mass./Frontier Regional) (7g, 2a) and Liz McKenna (North Attleboro, Mass./North Attleboro) have also been key players. The last stop defensively is junior keeper Liz Novis (Watertown, Mass./Watertown). Novis owns a 0.76 goals against average with seven shutouts and 92 saves.

BLOOMSBURG UNIVERSITY HUSKIES www.bloomu.edu/sports

Head Coach Jan Hutchinson
Bloomsburg University

Location: Bloomsburg, Pa.
Enrollment: 7,500
Colors: Maroon & Gold
Nickname: Huskies
Conference: PSAC
Appearances in NCAA's: 11
D-II National Titles: 6 (1983, 1993, '96, '97, '98, '99)

Under the direction of 25^th-year head coach and PSAC Coach of the Year Jan Hutchinson, Bloomsburg University is the only undefeated team in Division II at the onset of the national tournament with a 19-0 overall ledger. The Huskies captured their 11^th PSAC title last Saturday with a 3-0 win over Lock Haven, their second win over the Lady Eagles this season after a 1-0 win in the regular season. The Huskies average a nation-leading 4.0 goals per game and have allowed just nine goals all season for a total of 13 shutouts. A trio of Bloomsburg players has scored 11 or more goals, including junior forwards Shanna Fritz (Benton/Benton) (14g, 9a), Nikki Hartranft (Oley/Oley Valley) (13g, 6a), and Sheila Zilinski (Barto/Boyerstown) (11g, 8a). Zilinski was named the PSAC Field Hockey Athlete of the Year, while Fritz and Hartranft were both First Team All-PSAC selections. Midfielder Sharla Partlon (Langhorne/Neshaminy) (5g, 4a) and defender Marcie Zilinski (Barto/Boyertown) were also first team all-conference picks, while Erin McConnell (Danville/Danville) (2g) was a second-team choice at midfield. In goal, the Huskies rely on PSAC Championship MVP and senior Trish Leitzel (Richfield/Middleburg), who sports a 0.43 goals against average along with 11 shutouts.

BRYANT COLLEGE BULLDOGS www.bryant.edu/athletics.htm

Head Coach Coni Fichera
Bryant College

Location: Smithfield, R.I.
Enrollment: 2,700
Colors: Black, Gold, & White
Nickname: Bulldogs
Conference: Northeast-10
Appearances in NCAA's: 1
D-II National Titles: 0

The Bryant College Bulldogs are 13-4 overall and are making their inaugural appearance in the national tournament under fourth-year head coach Coni Fichera. Bryant was a Northeast-10 regular season co-champion and a conference tournament semifinalist, falling to Bentley, 3-2, in overtime in the first round. The Bulldogs are led in scoring by first team all-conference forward Elizabeth Gunn (Vineyard Haven, Mass./Martha’s Vineyard) who has tallied 15 goals and two assists. Junior forward Heidi Chirigotis (Westport, Mass./Westport), also a first-team selection, and freshman midfielder Maureen Burns (Derry, N.H./Pinkerton Academy), the NE-10 Freshman of the Year, both aid the cause with 10 goals and seven assists apiece. Melissa Manseau (Bedford, N.H./Williston-Northampton), a junior all-conference midfielder, is the team-leader with 10 assists and has also added eight goals. Defensively, junior back Danielle Dunham (Bedford, N.H./Manchester West) (3g) earned a selection to the NE-10 first-team unit. In goal, Bryant’s Kristen Patat (Portsmouth, N.H./Portsmouth) posts a 1.10 goals against average with 68 saves and five shutouts to her credit.

LOCK HAVEN LADY EAGLES www.lhup.edu/sports

Head Coach Pat Rudy
Lock Haven University

Location: Lock Haven, Pa.
Enrollment: 4,000
Colors: Crimson & White
Nickname: Lady Eagles
Conference: PSAC
Appearances in NCAA's: 11
D-II National Titles: 5 (1982, 1992, '94, '95, 2000)

Lock Haven makes its third-straight trip to the NCAA tournament, finishing as a semifinalist last season and as the champion in 2000. The Lady Eagles have five national titles tucked away in Division II including one under seventh-year head coach Pat Rudy. This season Lock Haven has built an 18-4 record and finished as the PSAC Tournament runner-up to Bloomsburg last weekend. Offensively, The Haven has produced a total of 81 goals while allowing 21 scores. Four players have tallied double-figure goal totals paced by senior and first-team All-PSAC forward Erika Grap (Van Etten, N.Y./Spencer-Van Etten) (15g, 5a). Junior midfielder Janelle Ebaugh (Hanover/Littlestown) (11g, 9a) is second in scoring and also registered All-PSAC accolades. All-conference selections Jen DeNault (Hamburg/Hamburg) (11g, 8a), a junior defender, and Kellie Kulina (Hummelstown/Lower Dauphin) (9g, 12a), a sophomore forward, have also been crucial to the offensive attack. PSAC Rookie of the Year and second team all-conference forward Nikki Sweger (Dauphin/Central Dauphin East) has tallied 10 goals and eight assists. Senior midfielder Amy Hale (Hanover/Southwestern) (7g, 7a), freshman defender Courtney Hughes (Schwenksville/Souderton) (3g, 1a), and sophomore goalie Melissa Stubblefield (Carmel, N.Y./Carmel) (0.95 gaa, 103 sv) were also all-conference selections for the Lady Eagles.

2002 NCAA Division II Field Hockey Championship
Charlotte Smith Field - Lock Haven, Pa. - Nov. 8-10, 2002

Friday, November 8, 2002
5 p.m. - Semifinal #1 (North Region): Bentley College (16-4) vs. Bryant College (13-4)
7:30 p.m. - Semifinal #2 (South Region): Bloomsburg University (19-0) vs. Lock Haven University (18-4)

Sunday, November 10, 2002
1 p.m. - Championship Game: Winner Game #1 vs. Winner Game #2

Ticket prices are $7 for adults and $3 for students and will be available at the gate on game day.

Directions & Lodging

Official NCAA Championships Website

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