May 23, 2010

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS: Sea Gulls capture first national championship with 7-6 win over Hamilton

GETTYSBURG, Pa. - The No. 2-ranked Salisbury University women's lacrosse team defeated No. 1 Hamilton College in a tightly contested 7-6 win in the NCAA Division III National Championship game on Sunday in front of 1,118 in attendance at Clark Field on the campus of Gettysburg College.

The Sea Gulls (21-1) never led in the contest until the seventh and final goal. Senior midfielder Beth Rhodey (Fallston, Md.) sent a perfect pass to junior midfielder Aileen McCausland (Phoenix, Md.) who was cutting through the middle of the offensive zone. McCausland caught the pass mid-stride and fired the ball into the top right corner of the goal with 5:56 remaining on the clock.

Following the goal, the Sea Gulls won the ensuing draw control, spread the field and attempted to run out the clock. Salisbury turned the ball over and gave the Continentals (21-1) the ball back with 56 seconds remaining on the clock. The Continentals had a shot in the final four seconds of the game that was blocked by an SU defender. Hamilton's Liz Rave scooped up the ball and put a shot on frame that junior goalkeeper Julie Ann Caulfield (Drexel Hill, Pa.) deflected away. The Continentals attempted a final shot that went into the goal, but the officials waved off the goal since the scoreboard had reached all zeroes. That sent the Sea Gulls into a wild jubilation that included a victory lap for the SU student-athletes.

The national championship is the first in program history, a program that is in its 38th year of existence. Before today's game the Sea Gulls had been national finalists three times (2005, '07, '09) and SU Head Coach Jim Nestor praised the work of this year's team and the relationship that they have built with the alumni following the game. “It's a great feeling for the players because they worked so hard all year,” said Nestor. “They did it for the alumni and to see how happy they were. They were not just happy for me, but for the entire program.”

It was a tough start for the Sea Gulls as the Continentals opened the contest with the first goal less than four minutes in off a shot from Anne Graveley. Rave tallied a pair of goals extend Hamilton's lead to 3-0. Salisbury got on the board with a free-position goal scored by sophomore midfielder Carrie Bray (Rockville, Md.) with 18 minutes remaining in the first stanza. The Hamilton offense went to work and controlled possession over the next eight minutes, which culminated in a Continental goal with 11:17 remaining in the first half. That goal prompted Nestor to use one of his two timeouts. Following the timeout, the Sea Gulls tallied their second goal of the day with a goal by senior midfielder Jessica Chmielewski (Woodbine, Md.) off an assist from junior attacker Trish DiGirolomo (Davidsonville, Md.). The SU offense continued to impress over the final few minutes and capped it off with a goal by junior attacker Logan Bilderback (Arnold, Md.) with 2:02 remaining. The Sea Gulls went into the halftime break trailing 4-3.

At the half, Salisbury was leading in shots (17-16), ground balls (7-5) and draw controls (5-3).

The Sea Gulls opened up the second half with a goal by senior attacker Kim Cudmore (Bel Air, Md.) off an assist from Chmielewski just one minute in. Hamilton regained the lead, but the Sea Gulls tied things up in the 23rd minute following an errant clear by the Continentals. Hamilton goalkeeper Kate Fowler had the ball taken away from her by sophomore midfielder Allie Wheatley (Cambridge, Md.); the loose ball skirted away and Bilderback scooped up the ground ball, firing into an empty net to tie the game at 5-5. Another goal by Rave gave Hamilton a 6-5 lead, but Wheatley scored her only goal of the game to settle the score at 6-6 before McCausland's late game heroics gave the Sea Gulls the victory.

McCausland was named NCAA All-Tournament Most Outstanding Player for her play over the last two games. Joining McCausland on the all-tournament team were Caulfield, Chmielewski, Cudmore, Rhodey and Wheatley. Caulfield finished with eight saves in the contest, including five second-half saves.

The win today spells the end of the careers of six SU seniors: midfielder Stephanie Cahill (Maple Shade, N.J.) Chmielewski, Cudmore, defenders Jess Glazer (Ellicott City, Md.) and Sarah McKinley (Timonium, Md.), and Rhodey. This group has compiled an 84-6 career record, won four Capital Athletic Conference championships and made four NCAA final four appearances. And captured one national championship.