Field Hockey Earns ECAC DIII New England Tournament Bid

2011 ECAC Division III New England Tournament Bracket

Cape Cod, MA --- The Worcester State field hockey team has been slotted as the sixth seed and will play #3 Mount Holyoke on Wednesday at 7 PM in this week's upcoming ECAC Division III New England Field Hockey Tournament. The playoff berth marks the sixth time in program history that the Lancers have received a nod to the tournament.

The winner will advance to the semifinals and play #2 University of New England on Saturday at top-seed Plymouth State, who is hosting the semifinals and championship. The Panthers will play the winner of the other quarterfinal game between #4 Bridgewater State and fifth-seeded Wheaton on Wednesday.

The Nor'easters and Plymouth State received first-round byes. The championship is slated for Sunday afternoon in Plymouth, NH.

Worcester State has also received bids to the ECACs in 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008. The Blue and Gold are still searching for their first-ever win in the tournament as they have held without a goal in their last four appearances.

The Lancers, who sport an overall record of 10-8, earned their first trip to the LEC Tournament since the 2008 season. They were defeated by UMass Dartmouth 4-1 on the road on Wednesday.

Senior Samantha Janda (Sterling, MA) leads the squad with 15 goals and eight assists as she broke the single-season record for points in their setback against the Corsairs (38). Classmate Sarah Cozzens (Lancaster, MA) has registered 14 goals and six helpers while sophomore Lindsey McGeary (Foxboro, MA) adds nine markers.

Fourth-year Lauren Daley (Dedham, MA) paces the squad defensively as she tied for the LEC lead in defensive saves (8). WSU is fourth in the conference with 29 goals allowed and fifth in goals against average (1.60).

Mount Holyoke (13-5) comes into the contest off a heartbreaking 2-1 overtime setback to MIT in the NEWMAC Tournament final. The Lyons finished as the Co-Regular Season NEWMAC Champions.

Senior Shara Robertson (Kwazulu Natal, South Africa) propels Mount Holyoke with 20 goals and 15 assists. Last week Robertson was 6th in Division III last week in points per game (3.40) and 11th in total (51).

Classmate Jess Fajardo (Amherst, MA) also has notched 15 goals and freshman Kirsten Kilburn (North Branford, CT) impresses with 13 markers and nine dishes. Fourth-year Katie Gibson (Charlotte, NC) is second in the NEWMAC in both goals allowed (23) and goals against average (1.27).

Mount Holyoke leads the all-time series 3-2-1 as their last game was a 0-0 draw that was played in the Northeast Field Hockey Coaches Association Tournament in 1980.