#4 Hamilton 11, #1 Salisbury 10

The Continentals Survive Second Half Surge

May 17, 2008

SALEM, Va. --- Hamilton College (20-1) capitalized on a 7-4 lead at halftime and survived a six-goal second half surge to upend the previously unbeaten Salisbury University (22-1), 11-10, in the semifinals of the NCAA Division III Women’s Lacrosse Championship.  The Continentals will face Franklin & Marshall College in the championship game on Sunday.

The Continentals put out a balanced offensive production receiving goals from seven different players.  Jen McGowan, Anne Graveley, Nicole Tetreault and Kallie Briscoe all tallied two goals apiece for Hamilton.  Liz Rave, Hilary Saverin and Sarah Bray added one score apiece to the Continentals’ scoreline.

“I am very excited to be in the championship,” said Briscoe.  “It is great how everyone has rallied with us and is supporting us.  We are playing for all of them along with ourselves.”

Hamilton goalkeeper Kate Fowler notched six saves on the afternoon.

Salisbury was led offensively by Robyn Bishop who netted four goals and dished out one assist for a total of five points on the afternoon.  Sue Ackermann and Kim Cudmore added two goals each.

The Sea Gulls’ net-minder Sonja Stuart made 10 saves.

“We dug ourselves into a big hole, but the girls never gave up.  We had that opportunity in the end but it wasn’t enough,” said Salisbury head coach Jim Nestor.

Franklin & Marshall and Hamilton (19-1) are both relatively new to national championship game play.  While they won the 2007 championship, the Diplomats’ trip back to the deciding game is only their second appearance in such a contest in program history.  Comparatively, that experience is much more that Hamilton brings into the contest as the Continentals will be making the first national title game appearance in any sport for the school.

The 2008 NCAA Division III Women’s Lacrosse Championship title game is set for 12:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 18, at Donald J. Kerr Stadium at Roanoke College.  The event will also be televised live by the CBS College Sports Network.