Field Hockey Falls Short in NCAA Final
Box Score
NORFOLK, Va. (Nov. 24, 2013) - With 2:56 left to play, graduate midfielder
Dani Crouse (Westville, South Africa) of the LIU Post field hockey team tied the score to send the NCAA Div. II Championship Game, held at Old Dominion University, into overtime, but it was not enough as Shippensburg was granted a controversial penalty stroke 5:31 into the extra session to secure the win.
LIU Post finishes the season with a program-best 21-1 record, while Shippensburg closes out 2013 at 20-1.
The top-ranked Raiders held possession and momentum the majority of the first half of play, which was evident with their early score. Taylor Bendor and Lucinda Kauffman hooked up on a penalty corner for the game's first goal in the 12th minute.
Following that score, the two sides each had a few penalty corner opportunities and shots but neither squad converted. The first half closed with the score at 1-0 in favor of Shippensburg.
A new team came out on the field in the second half for the Pioneers, as they outhustled and outworked the Raiders and held possession in their attacking half to keep the pressure on Shippensburg's defense. One of the few scoring opportunities the Raiders did have came in the 60th minute, but freshman goalkeeper
Meredith Stocklin (Mount Laurel, N.J.) made a diving save to keep the green and gold within one score.
The Pioneers were finally able to get on the board with less than three minutes to play as Crouse found a hole at the right elbow just inside the circle.
That would prove to be the final score in regulation as the contest headed to overtime knotted at 1-1.
Just over five minutes into the overtime, the Raiders were granted a penalty corner. On a shot attempt off the corner, the referee made a highly-debated call to give Shippensburg a penalty stroke at the 75:31 mark. Bre White was able to sneak the ball just inside the right post to give her squad their first national championship in school history.
Stocklin took her first loss in her rookie season, finishing 14-1, while making two saves in the effort. On the other side, Carenna Neely turned aside four attempts in the win.
Overall, LIU Post held an 11-10 edge in shots, while Shippensburg managed a 6-4 penalty corner clip.
NCAA All-Tournament Team
Brittany Troutman, Millersville
Samantha Raune, Millersville
Jessica Otis, Merrimack
Sarah Dunbar, Merrimack
Keliann Margiotta, LIU Post
Lyn-Marie Wilson, LIU Post
Dani Crouse, LIU Post
Bre White, Shippensburg
Carenna Neely, Shippensburg
Katie Shoop, Shippensburg
Ari Saytar, Shippensburg