October 28, 2002
LHU Field Hockey To Host Shippensburg in PSAC Semifinal

  #2 Lock Haven: This marks the 13^th straight and 18^th overall appearance in the PSAC tournament for Lock Haven, who owns a conference-best 11 titles including crowns in the past two seasons.  The Lady Eagles have qualified for the PSAC tournament in each of seventh-year Head Coach Pat Rudy’s seasons at the helm and have won the championship on a total of four occasions (2001, 2000, 1998, 1996).  
            This year’s Lady Eagle squad has posted an overall mark of 17-3 and finished 6-2 in the PSAC regular season.  Both of LHU’s losses to Division II teams were PSAC squads, falling 1-0 to both Bloomsburg and East Stroudsburg in the regular season. This year’s defense has recorded a total of 11 shutout victories, while offensively the Lady Eagles outscore their opponents by an average of 3.1 goals per game and outshoot opponents by an average of 18.6 shots per game. 
            Leading the squad in scoring is senior forward Erika Grap (Van Etten, N.Y./Spencer-Van Etten).  Grap has posted a career-best 15 goals and five assists to pace The Haven, including four goals in the final two games of the regular season.  Junior midfielder Janelle Ebaugh (Hanover/Littlestown) ranks second among LHU scorers with 11 goals and eight assists in what is also her most productive season on record.  Sophomore midfielder Kellie Kulina (Hummelstown/Lower Dauphin) leads the conference in assists with 12, and has also beat opposing keepers for nine goals.  Another trio of dangerous offensive weapons include rookie Nikki Sweger (Dauphin/Central Dauphin East), senior Amy Hale (Hanover/Southwestern), and sophomore Courtney Diener (Bird-in-Hand/Conestoga Valley).  Sweger has made an immediate impact on the speed and scoring ability of the Haven offense, pocketing nine goals and seven assists in her inaugural campaign.  Hale has been a steady contributor as well, registering seven goals and seven assists. Though not a regular starter, Diener has been a big threat off the bench with a season total of five goals.  

2002 PSAC 
Field Hockey Tournament

Semifinal Round (10/29):
#1 Bloomsburg vs. #4 East Stroudsburg
(at Bloomsburg, Pa. - 2 p.m.)
#2 Lock Haven vs. #3 Shippensburg
(at Lock Haven, Pa. - 7 p.m.)

Championship Game (11/2):
Site of highest remaining seed; 
Game time dependent on site.

            Regularly found patrolling the midfield along with Ebaugh and Hale are Katie Stewartz (Boyertown/Boyertown) and Sara Segerlin (Penfield, N.Y./Webster).  Stewartz has recorded five assists and one goal, while Segerlin has added three scores to the offense.
            Defensively, junior Jen DeNault (Hamburg/Hamburg) has piloted a unit that has allowed just 16 goals all season (.80 per game average) and tallied 11 shutouts.  DeNault contributes nine goals and eight assists to the offense as a key player on penalty corners.  Aiding DeNault in the backfield are freshmen Courtney Hughes (Schwenksville/Souderton) and Rebecca Steffen (Hawley/Wallenpaupack Area).  In goal, sophomore Melissa Stubblefield (Carmel, N.Y./Carmel) is a quickly developing force who currently owns a 0.79 goals against average with 93 saves on the season.   

#3 Shippensburg University:  Shippensburg is 16-3 overall and recorded a 5-3 PSAC ledger during the regular season to earn the third seed in the PSAC tournament.  This is the third time in four years the Lady Raiders have advanced to the tournament and the second season in a row. 
            The Lady Raiders have scored a team-record 63 goals this season and boast considerable depth offensively with eight players having scored four or more goals.  Carli Bordner leads the way with 11 goals and two assists.  Lindsey Knupp (8g, 5a) and Sarah Paine (6g, 1a) add scoring punch while Kelly Stewart (5g, 5a) and Liz Dideon (5g, 2a) are also key contributors to the offense. 
            At midfield, Shippensburg has sisters Marissa and Heather Rothrock to control the action. Marissa Rothrock shares the team lead with five assists, while Heather Rothrock has posted two goals and four assists.  
            The backbone of a defense which has allowed just 15 goals with eight shutouts consists of Becky Smith, Hillary Manning, Kelly Stewart, and Erika Daniel.  In the cage for Shippensburg is Nora Luchansky, who owns a 0.81 goals against average in 17 games played. 

Regular-Season Outcome: The Lock Haven-Shippensburg regular season contest ended in a 2-0 victory for the Lady Eagles after an intense and physical battle.  LHU’s Courtney Hughes and Kellie Kulina both netted goals in the win.

The Road to the PSAC Championship Game: The winners of Tuesday’s semifinal games will meet on Saturday, November 2, at the site of the highest surviving seed for the PSAC Championship tilt.  Should the game be held at either Bloomsburg or Shippensburg, start time is set for 1 p.m.  Should Lock Haven earn the right to host, the contest will start at 7 p.m.

###LHU###