2005 NCAA® DIVISION III FIELD HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP
hosted by Washington and Lee University
Lexington, Va.
November 18-19, 2005
SALISBURY CLAIMS NCAA FIELD HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP WITH A 1-0 WIN OVER MESSIAH
LEXINGTON, Va. -- Salisbury University became the first team in NCAA Division III history to win three consecutive field hockey National Championships with a 1-0 win over Messiah College in the National Championship game on Saturday afternoon at Washington and Lee University.
The Sea Gulls also set an NCAA record with their 12th consecutive victory in the NCAA Tournament.
“It's unbelieveable. This really hasn’t set in yet -- but wow,” said Salisbury Head Coach Dawn Chamberlin in referring to the Sea Gulls three straight National Championships.
The Falcons controlled the play for most of the first half as they outshot Salisbury 11-4 and held a 7-2 edge in penalty corners, but they couldn’t put any shots past Sea Gulls sophomore goalkeeper Maria Ramoundos (Gloucester, N.J./Highland).
In the second half, both defenses continued to dominate the game until Salisbury broke the scoreless tie when junior defender Sarah Tracey (Hampstead, Md./Hereford) scored a goal off a penalty corner at the 40:09 mark. Senior forward Brittany Elliott (Delmar, Del./Delmar) assisted on the goal.
This was the only goal that the Sea Gulls needed as their defense shut down the Falcons offense in the second half.
“I think the second half was so much stronger than the first. We started dictating what was happening on the field,” explained Chamberlin. “We were playing some really good defense and just wouldn’t give up any goals. Just a great defensive effort today.”
Ramoundos helped the Sea Gulls defensive effort with her seven saves, while freshman goalkeeper Renee Herbster (Middleburg, Pa./Midd-West) stopped two shots for the Falcons.
Messiah outshot Salisbury, 17-12, and held a 12-6 edge in penalty corners.
With the win, the Sea Gulls concluded their season with a 21-1 record, while the Falcons finished 20-3.
-- NCAA FIELD HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIPS --